Call for Cull on Gibraltar's Apes

While Gibraltar's apes remain one of the most popular attractions to the rock, and their mischievous antics particularly please tourists, their behavior has grown too much and police look to reduce their number.
By: VacationRentalPeople
 
July 30, 2010 - PRLog -- One of the latest tricks the chimps have acquired is ordering room service - well, sort of... Earlier this summer a particularly brazen monkey strolled in to the up market Rock Hotel Bar as any customer may, and exited with a tray full of scones purloined from a waiter's trolley, though the animal had the courtesy to close the trolley door after himself.

The problem has quickly escalated, from a source of amusement, to a hassle and now local authorities are looking to imminently cull the chimps that have lived in Gibraltar for nearly two hundred years.

A police source said recently, that they wish to cut down about 10 per cent of the monkeys. “We are looking to lose at least 12%.” he commented.

The escalating problem the apes is partially thought to have been exacerbated by tourists, who in spite of requests not to, have continued to feed the monkeys. This has led to a problem with the chimps heavily regarding tourists as there source of food, whether forthcoming with it or not.

Trendy hotels over the rock have become prominent chimp hang outs, both La Caletta and The Rock hotels find themselves bothered by the monkeys as they climb in to rooms with open windows, prowling for food.

There has also been trouble with the chimps destroying cables and satellite dishes.

While the monkeys are notorious for harassing the locals on the upper part of the town, they have now spread down, bothering those in the tourist part of the town. This problem has grown too large and senses of humour are now beginning to fail. A feature that used to be an attraction to Gibraltar is now becoming a hindrance and authorities seek to put a stop to it before it grows out of hand.

The tail-less monkeys have been here now since the mid eighteenth century when British soldiers brought them from Africa for target practice. Now the rock has a strong population of over 200 tail less Macaques.

This year has seen a big boost in Spanish tourism with many returning British travelers, and the Costa Del Sol has remained a firm favourite in the British holiday making atlas. With the recession taking its toll Costa Del Sol villas have grown in popularity, offering much better value for the tourist than hotels.

A day trip to the rock of Gibraltar is as ever a popular day out from the Cota Del Sol, with many families departing to see the Macaques and those caverns and pits that seem to stretch on forever as a vortex.

The eccentric tax system here makes this peculiar stretch of land completely duty free, with its own form of sterling that is valueless outside of Gibraltar.

Many Brits have been plumbing for cheaper accommodation outside of the Rock, whilst making an essential day trip down to the town.


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