Wild & Wonderful
Gibraltar Monkeys

I was taking a tour of the Rock that included the vistas at its peak to the caves which sheltered soldiers, generations ago. As we arrived, my driver pulled out a banana and said, “Watch this.” We were beside each other and before I could catch my breath, I had a monkey on my head snatching the banana from the driver’s hands!

I was shocked to say the least. I quickly learned you’re really not supposed to feed them. In fact, having food on you is the quickest way to create a problem with the Gibraltar monkeys. They’re quite clever and have grown very accustomed to human visitors, but don’t mistake them for pets. They are wild animals and should be treated accordingly.

They can get competitive and will fight each other over food. They may even take issue with you if you forcibly try to take any back from them. And truth be told, they don’t need it. There are plenty of monkey-friendly culinary options for them to enjoy in the surrounding wilderness.

Also, stay vigilant about your belongings. These clever characters will take advantage if you’re not paying attention. They’re known for snatching bags — they associate them with food — and may even grab a phone or sunglasses given the opportunity to scratch their itch of curiosity. Lastly, give them space and don’t try to touch. You don’t need to be afraid, but you should respect them as much as you enjoy them. And they are a lot of fun to watch.