Wild Primates of the Med
13 images Created 9 Nov 2016
The endangered Barbary Macaques are the last wild primates in the Mediterranean basin and are still a poorly known species despite their infamous exotic colony in Gibraltar Rock, where overpopulation is creating conflict with tourists and forcing authorities to implement drastic population control measures.
Only a few wild populations of Barbary Macaque survive hidden in the Atlantic Cedar Forests in the mountains of Morocco and Algeria. The harsh conditions of their habitat –cold and moist for half of the year– force the macaques to feed constantly for survival. Family groups stay together and are dominated by males. Males and females share the responsibility of raising the young. However, the males show a unique behavior for wild primate species, known as alloparenting: they take care of the babies and young even if they are not their offspring.
But the future of these macaques is dire. Their native forest habitat was once widespread in the region, but logging, droughts, and plagues –that are increasing in a warming planet– have caused a decline in forest cover of up to 75% in the last 50 years. Without them, barbary macaques will not be able to survive in the wild, where they are also threatened by wildlife trafficking for pets and, recently, interactions with tourism that can rapidly affect their survival skills in the wild.
Only a few wild populations of Barbary Macaque survive hidden in the Atlantic Cedar Forests in the mountains of Morocco and Algeria. The harsh conditions of their habitat –cold and moist for half of the year– force the macaques to feed constantly for survival. Family groups stay together and are dominated by males. Males and females share the responsibility of raising the young. However, the males show a unique behavior for wild primate species, known as alloparenting: they take care of the babies and young even if they are not their offspring.
But the future of these macaques is dire. Their native forest habitat was once widespread in the region, but logging, droughts, and plagues –that are increasing in a warming planet– have caused a decline in forest cover of up to 75% in the last 50 years. Without them, barbary macaques will not be able to survive in the wild, where they are also threatened by wildlife trafficking for pets and, recently, interactions with tourism that can rapidly affect their survival skills in the wild.