BARBARY APES
Click pictures to enlarge
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Apes are in fact a tail-less breed of monkey, (Macaca
Silvanus) whose natural habitat is in the mountains of Morocco and Algeria.
They were most probably first brought here by the British in the early
eighteenth century. The earliest written record of the apes in Gibraltar
dates back to 1740. Legend has it that the apes are a symbol of British
sovereignty and if they go the British will leave Gibraltar, "That's
why we have to feed them". When their numbers diminished during
WWII, Sir Winston Churchill gave strict orders that a minimum of 24
should be maintained.
Today there are over 200 apes living free on the Upper Nature Reserve. They are divided into five packs and are quite territorial. A male ape which can grow up to 15 - 20 kgs reaches maturity at 5 yrs and is in his prime at 7 yrs. The female starts breeding from the age of 3 yrs and produces 1 offspring each year on average. The usual lifespan of an ape is from 18 to 21. All the apes feed on wild roots, berries, veg and fruit. |
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