Shocking Discovery: Gibraltar's Monkeys Eating Junk Food from Tourists, Now Resorting to Eating Dirt to Relieve Stomach Pain
Gibraltar's iconic monkey population has developed an unusual coping mechanism—eating dirt to relieve stomach problems caused by junk food fed by tourists. Researchers believe this self-medication behavior shows how human feeding disrupts w
In a remarkable turn of events, monkeys in Gibraltar have developed unusual eating habits after becoming addicted to junk food from tourists, leading them to eat dirt to ease digestive problems. Researchers suggest this may be a form of natural self-medication behavior.
The monkey population in British Gibraltar is now attracting scientific attention after researchers discovered these animals engage in soil-eating behavior to counteract the effects of regularly consuming junk food from tourists.
Approximately 230 monkeys, believed to originate from North Africa, are one of Gibraltar's iconic symbols. This small territory has a population of about 30,000 and is located near Spain's southern border. These monkeys attract large numbers of tourists daily.
Many visitors get close to the monkeys and feed them snacks, candy, and processed foods. While this creates entertainment, experts warn the behavior is dangerous to wildlife health and disrupts the animals' natural eating patterns.
These monkeys are literally eating dirt to help digest the junk food received from tourists.
The monkeys in this area have begun aggressively taking food from tourists, including ice cream, cake, and french fries, as well as rummaging through trash or accepting food directly. This has clearly altered their eating system, which previously focused on fruits, vegetables, and seeds.
A study conducted between 2022-2024 by researchers from leading universities including Oxford, Cambridge, and Paris-Sorbonne found that these monkeys exhibited abnormally high rates of soil-eating behavior, particularly during summer when tourist numbers peak. This was the first time such behavior was recorded in this monkey population.
Researchers explain that this behavior may represent a form of "natural self-medication," as junk foods like sweets, french fries, and dairy products can cause digestive problems in monkeys, prompting them to eat dirt to help balance their gut flora.
Experts also theorize that soil may contain microorganisms or substances that help restore the microbiome in the monkeys' bodies. Scientists emphasize this may be one of the clearest examples demonstrating the impact of human food on wild animal behavior in nature.
