Barbary Macaque:
Scientists have observed that the Gibraltar’s Barbary Macaques eat soil (geophagy) to counter ill effects of tourist-derived junk food.
- Barbary macaques are one of 25 species of macaque found around the world.
- They’re the only macaque species living outside Asia and the only non-human primate in North Africa and Europe.
- They are most commonly found in high-altitude mountains, rocky cliffs, and gorges. The ideal habitat of this species is cedar forest.
- They are mainly found in Africa, Asia and Europe.
- The natural range of these primates covers the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco in North Africa.
- The Barbary monkeys have also been introduced from Morocco to Gibraltar, where these animals currently occur in a small population.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Endangered
