Tourist snacks are making the Rock of Gibraltar's monkeys sick, and their solution will make you laugh

The macaques of Gibraltar have developed unusual coping habits after regular exposure to tourist food. As they are increasingly exposed to human food brought by tourists, resulting in noticeable changes in their eating habits. Researchers cite that macaques are frequently consuming snacks like crisps, chocolate bars, bread, and ice cream, mainly in high-tourist regions during peak holiday seasons.

Junk Food Tempts But Disrupts Digestion for Monkey’s

A Cambridge University study emphasizes that these foods have negative digestive impacts for the animals but are “as delicious for them” as they are for humans. Scientists describe that such calorie-rich, sugary, fatty, and dairy-heavy foods are very differ greatly from the macaques’ natural diet, which usually consists of leaves, herbs, seeds, and occasional insects.

Strange Fix: Monkeys Turn to Eating Soil

To deal with stomach discomfort, the monkeys have been observed eating soil. Researchers indicate that this behaviour may help reduce irritation caused by junk food by lining the gut, slowing harmful absorption, and easing symptoms such as nausea or diarrhoea. Soil may also supply beneficial microbes and minerals absent in processed human foods.

What does Scientists Explain Regarding the Survival Strategy

Dr Sylvain Lemoine, a biological anthropologist from Cambridge’s Department of Archaeology who led the study, stated that macaques likely started eating soil to “buffer their digestive system against the high energy, low fibre nature of these snacks and junk foods, which have been shown to cause gastric upsets in some primates.”

He further mentioned that findings support a “protection hypothesis,” where soil serves as a barrier in the digestive tract and potentially reduces gastrointestinal discomfort while aiding gut health.

Humans Are Quietly Rewriting Monkey Behaviour

Dr Lemoine also described that foods offered by tourists are “extremely rich in calories, sugar, salt and dairy,” which is unlike the species’ natural diet. He cited that humans evolved to crave energy-dense food items, and this same reaction may now be triggered in macaques because of frequent exposure to human snacks.

“Soil-eating may allow them to keep consuming food that has negative digestive effects, but is as delicious for them as it is for us,” he stated, explaining the behaviour as both functional and cultural.

Tourist Seasons Drive Socially Learned Habits

The study discovered that monkeys exposed more constantly to tourists featured higher rates of soil consumption, with activity elevating in peak holiday periods. Researchers believe the behaviour is socially learned, as different monkey groups display preferences for specific soil types.

Almost 12 soil-eating events per week were found on average, including cases shortly following the consumption of ice cream, biscuits, or bread.


Source: The Northern Echo

FAQs:

Q1. Why are Gibraltar monkeys eating tourist food?

They eat it because it is easily available from visitors. The food is also high in sugar and fat, which attracts them.

Q2. Is junk food harmful to these monkeys?

Yes, it can cause digestive problems for them. Their bodies are not adapted to processed human food.