The monkeys are the symbol of Gibraltar
Meanwhile, the approximately 200 macaques to a plague - long since they are no longer at home only to the famous rock
That the population grew so has to do with the fact that each monkey daily 500 grams of fresh fruit and vegetables get fed
The Upper Rock, the monkey rock, at night
The Abdulaziz Mosque at the foot of the Upper Rock
The monkeys are the biggest tourist attraction in Gibraltar - and an important symbol of British rule. Now would be 25 to be killed.
According to the legend remains in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, Gibraltar rocks as long as British, as there are monkeys for sale in the town. If it was then, the British would not currently worried about their dominance. In recent years the animals have in fact multiplied so much that they became a veritable plague. The Government of the monkey rock therefore decided to have killed 25 of more than 200 animals. Two have already been euthanized with a lethal injection.
This is the animal rights activists said in an uproar. The International League for the Protection of primates (IPPL) threatened to call for a tourism boycott against Gibraltar. "The government is not able to maintain the stock of monkeys properly, although the animals represent an important economic factor," the British leader Helen IPPL-Thirlway said, according to the newspaper, Gibraltar Chronicle.
From the rock in the hotel lobbies
The macaque, a species of monkeys are considered the only wild monkeys in Europe. However, this is an exaggeration, because in reality they live in a mini-sanctuary on the Upper Rock in about 200 meters. There, they are also supplied with food. Every day, every monkey about 500 grams of fresh fruit and vegetables.
A group of macaques was, however, left the group and moved on their own to close to residential areas. There, the monkeys came through open windows in apartments and rooms of a 4-star hotels and set up on the search for food in a mess. They were also anxious about her delivery ransacked the garbage and pulled down a passer-away bag.
Fear of the monkeys
The authorities allowed the garbage cans to make "monkey-proof" and called on the people to keep the windows closed. But it did not help. The monkeys were not to return to the Upper Rock move. "The decision to have to kill the monkeys, is the last resort," said Tourism Minister Ernest Britto. "Children living in fear and terror, people can not open their windows. The apes can bite and transmit diseases such as hepatitis also. "
However, the man was himself to the fact that the animals were a nuisance. "Some visitors feed the monkeys and teach them so that they can expect from the people food," said the Society for Ornithology and Natural History, which deals on behalf of the Government of the animals. "This way, the monkeys lost the fear and respect for the people."
Zoos do not want the Gibraltar macaques
By law, the feeding be fined up to 500 pounds (about 640 €). Such a penalty has been imposed since 1918, but only once. The police dismissed claims back to a sharper approach by pointing out that the hunting of Affenfütterer not one of its priorities.
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In earlier centuries were the British colonial masters a simple way to prevent overgrowth of the macaque: the soldiers used the monkey for sale for target practice. This is no longer eligible. Six years ago, the authorities attempted to combat the increase of population with means of contraception. The success was not however limited. Also tried to leave surplus zoo monkeys in other countries. But there were hardly any customers.
