Home / Environment / Gibraltar Monkeys Eat Dirt to Counter Junk Food
Gibraltar Monkeys Eat Dirt to Counter Junk Food
2 May
Summary
- Barbary macaques eat soil to soothe stomachs after consuming junk food.
- Geophagy is a learned behavior, with troops near tourists eating more soil.
- This behavior helps them digest unhealthy tourist snacks like ice cream.
Gibraltar's Barbary macaques have been observed engaging in geophagy, the intentional consumption of soil, as a response to a diet of tourist-provided junk food. This behavior, documented by a University of Cambridge study, is prevalent among troops with frequent contact with holidaymakers, particularly during busy tourist seasons. Researchers hypothesize that the high-sugar, high-fat snacks disrupt the monkeys' gut microbiome.
Eating dirt appears to serve as a natural remedy, lining the gut, supplying minerals, and mitigating digestive discomfort. This allows the macaques to continue consuming treats like ice cream, crisps, and chocolate, which they find appealing but are nutritionally unsuitable. The study noted that troops with no access to human food did not exhibit this soil-eating behavior.
The geophagy is also showing signs of becoming a cultural tradition, with different groups preferring specific soil types. Observations suggest social learning plays a role, as many incidents occurred in groups with other macaques present. This unique adaptation highlights how human proximity is influencing primate behavior and culture in Gibraltar.
