Barbary Macaque

The Barbary macaque (all too often mistakenly called an ape) was first brought to the attention of the Conservation Working Party of the Primate Society of Great Britain late 1979 when John Fa reported that 'surplus' animals were being sent from Gibraltar to dubious locations, such as an Italian safari park. Since there had been no scientific input into the Army's management of the monkey colony on Gibraltar, and there was concern about inbreeding, nutrition and health - about the long-term viability of the colony, it was felt that the Society could help. The Gibraltar Scientific Authority and the Army were very receptive to our offer and ideas, and this topic occupied successive chairmen over the last few years - Robin Dunbar and Richard Wrangham, myself and now Miranda Stevenson - with constant prompting and help from John Fa. Considerations soon extended to the status of the species as a whole, so that there have been three main aspects:- (1) the improved health of a larger self-sustaining population on Gibraltar, (2) the status and behavioural biology of natural populations in North Africa (Morocco and Algeria), and (3) the breeding achievements in European parks and zoos, and their potential for reintroduction to suitable areas in North Africa, along with other possibilities. Robin Dunbar organized the compilation of recommendations for managing the Gibraltar colony with regard to numbers, age-sex struc ture and behavioural relationships, with some observations on diet to avoid obesity and infertility.

The concept of this book arises from a symposium entitled “Human-Macaque Interactions: Traditional and Modern Perspectives on Cooperation and Conflict ” organized at the 23rd Congress of the International Primatological Society, that was held in Kyoto in September 2010. The symposium highlighted the many aspects of human-macaque relations and some of the participants were invited to contribute to this volume. The volume will include about 11 chapters by a variety of international authors and some excerpts from published literature that illustrate cultural notions of macaques. Contributions from invited authors will engage with four main perspectives – traditional views of macaques, cooperative relationships between humans and macaques, current scenarios of human-macaque conflict, and how living with and beside humans has affected macaques. Authors will address these concerns through their research findings and reviews of their work on the Asian, and the lone African, macaques. ​

Often referred to as Barbary apes or Barbary monkeys, Barbary macaques are amazing primates that are indigenous to North Africa's hilly terrain. For millennia, people have been fascinated by Barbary macaques due to their remarkable appearance, social behavior, and intelligence. In recent years, some people have been lured to the idea of keeping Barbary macaques as pets, intrigued by the promise of developing a strong bond with these extraordinary animals. But keeping a Barbary macaque as a pet is a decision that should not be made hastily. These primates have complex physical, social, and emotional demands that must be properly addressed in captivity to maintain their well-being. Furthermore, there are regional variations in the ethics and legality of owning Barbary macaques as pets, and many areas have stringent laws governing this practice. We shall examine the nuances of owning Barbary macaques as pets in this extensive tutorial. We will explore every facet of responsible macaque ownership, from comprehending their natural behavior and habitat needs to offering appropriate food, care, and enrichment. Future and present owners of Barbary macaques can have a fulfilling journey of friendship while supporting the welfare of these amazing animals by learning about the special requirements and difficulties of caring for these amazing animals.

This 1996 book is a synthesis of the ecology, evolution, behaviour and conservation of extant macaque species.