Headline Of the Week Weak
Filed under: Headline of the Week
"Gibraltar to kill "molesting" monkeys"
Poor monkeys! CLICK HERE to read the article accompanying this headline.
Gibraltar to kill "molesting" monkeys
A pack of at least 25 of Gibraltar's famous monkeys are being killed because they are threatening human health in one of The Rock's popular tourism areas, a government minister said on Tuesday.
Two of the monkeys — a national symbol for the British colony at the foot of Spain — have already been given a lethal injection, said Gibraltar's Tourist Minister Ernest Britto who issued the license for their culling.
"The decision was not taken lightly," he said. "It is a last resort."
Gibraltar's residents have long lived alongside the monkeys or macaques, but Britto said the behavior of one pack had got out-of-hand in Catalan Bay and Sandy Bay, two popular tourist areas on The Rock.
"Children are frightened, people cannot leave their windows open for fear of the monkeys stealing, apes can bite and contact with them runs the risk of salmonella or hepatitis," said Britto.
Last month, Britto told Gibraltar's parliament that once the cull of 25 macaques is completed the overall monkey population would be set at around 200.
The cull will take time since the monkeys must be lured into cages and then sedated before killing, he said.
Gibraltar has been running a birth control problem to control the monkey population for about six years but the programme is taking time to work.
Franco Ostuni, general manager of the Caleta Hotel, said guests rooms have been vandalized by monkeys scrounging for extra food.
"What has to stop is the damage that apes are doing to Gibraltar, private properties and individuals without anyone taking responsibility for it," he said.
However, the International Primate Protection League said it was considering calling on tourists to boycott Gibraltar if the local government did not stop the cull.
"It is clear that the Government of Gibraltar is still not managing their population of macaques in a responsible manner, despite the fact that they undoubtedly boost the nation's economy as arguably their most popular tourist attraction," said Helen Thirlway, head of IPPL in the UK.
WTF???
first
first
FIRST
!!!!!
first
First !!!
assholes
how does that make them "molesting" monkeys??
Monkeys are our animal cousins, it's only right that we kill them because we kill each other and we will get everything we get in the future because of it. Our disrespect towards the planet and animals is the FULL reason why we are so fucked.
first1?
They could move the Monkeys… they don't need to kill them.
on a happier note.. i'm so glad you're mad at Britney Spears' lable. I was sooooo tired of reading about her.
monkeys are horny bitches
first
first hell yes
Gosh
I went there at the end of January and they are fucking scarey mother fuckers….
Some of them look like they will bite your heads off….
monkeys are cute!
Those damn simians…..can't leave well enough alone. They initially welcomed the monkeys then flip flop and change their minds when the plan backfired. Typical. :\
Although this is sad, I've spent a lot of time in Gibraltarand can honestly attest that those monkeys are extremely aggressive and very frightening. I'm sad to hear it's had to come to this extreme measure though.
FIRST
This is terrible. I was in Gibraltar in October 2006 and the monkeys were mischievious, but they did not harm any of us on our tour group. We were instructed not to feed them and they were just being playful. I was under the impression that the island was a sanctuary for the monkeys, but I guess not.
That is just sad!!
1st
Glad to be first
cool, who gives a flying fuck?
Why kill them? If they have a birth control program why don't they catch them and fix them?
why the hell doesnt the country just try to sell them to zoos??? its an endangered species for god sakes, im sure that any zoo would pasy for a couple (or hell even just giving them to them would be better than killing the population down to 200). grrr
That is so sad!! but i guess they have to do what they have to do to protect their citizens
cant they just relocate the monkeys? that would be a better alternative i guess.
Re: elyse – molestar…spanish for bothersome, annoying, pains in the ass. just bad translating…well that, and an attempt to get people to read the story.
They are evil fuckers, trust me!
For one time I am ashamed to be Gibraltarian. I am an animal rights activist and this is just stupid and wrong . I have no problems with the monkeys they even climb on my buildings sometimes. There are sooo many other ways they could deal with this .. not killing them :/
Don't judge us all but som peoples stupid judgement.
Maybe I should jack off again.
If they could catch them and pin them up it would be better than killing them. When we were in Gibraltar these monkeys were nothing but a scary/ mean distraction from all of the beauty. They get into your stuff, bite, hit, jump on you and are a total nuscance. My thoughts.
having been there to see the monkeys I can understand perfectly why they are doing this………………. they can be a bit nasty so I would be all for this taking place. Unless one has been there, I dont believe that they can comment negatively on this issue
I have been to Gibraltar and the monkeys their are quite violent. They break into residence's homes to steal food etc. I think there are more monkeys in Gibraltar than there are residents.
I am the biggest animal lover but after visiting Gibraltar my view of monkeys has never been the same. Those monkeys are mean and scary. While driving up to the top of the rock it was smoldering hot but we couldn't open the windows because the monkeys would jump into your car and then you couldn't do anything because if you tried to they would bite.
The monkeys were there first! If people want to "risk" living or visiting there - that is their problem. They are killing animals so that tourists can open their windows??!! Give me a break!
"What has to stop is the damage that apes are doing to Gibraltar, private properties and individuals without anyone taking responsibility for it," he said.
They are primates not criminals… they have no concept of personal responsibility.
The tour guides are to blame for their aggressive behavior. They feed the animals so they're used to people food. We've created their behaviors…
I visited Gibraltar last summer with my sister, and those monkeys are CRAZY! The guide told us not to react to them if they jump on you because they will bite you if they think you are trying to hit them in any way. So if you are walking and one just JUMPS on your head, you have to act like nothing happened?! And if they steal your stuff…let it go! I personally saw one monkey steal sunglasses right off some guys head! Stuff is expensive! Control that shit!!
Them things are nasty it stole my food when I was there in 2005
i hate those monkeys - they stole a candybar from me when I was there a few years back - they have HUGE teeth, so I wasn't about to fight over a flake bar….
i got bit by one of the apes once… no lie… it jumped on me and i tried to let it down but it bit my arm and wouldn't let go so i had to swing it then whack it with my other hand.. im actually not lying hahhaha
first, THE PEOPLE ARE INVADING the monkey's nature enviroment, and now they kill them??? fucking ridiculous, they shouldn't have put their pretty houses there, second, why is the goverment doing this? what happened to the protection of the wild animals?
THEY ARE ANIMALS, deal with it or move to another place.
Fucking people
I've been there and those things can be really mean. They attacked my little sister as we were going into a cave.
Re: Melanie – yea thats what happened to me… he jumped on my shoulder, then climbed down into my arm so i tried to let him down but he didnt want to so he bit my other arm
it was all sorts of colours for like 3 weeks
Re: eve – the colony is like hundreds of years old, and the monkeys only live on the rock of gibraltar (which is more of a mountain) …. they didn't invade anything
Why doesn't the government give the monkey's parachutes and drop them off in Iraq?
Um.. it's called tranq, catch & release elsewhere? Dumb spics.
I live near Gibraltar, I went there for holidays and some moneys are very agressive and steal to people. They should move monkey to some other place.
I'm going to get my family and camp out with the monkeys and do the same shit they do - bite people, break windows, show people my ass, take a shit in public, etc. I'm curious if the tourism people would put me in a cage and kill me or just move me out of there. These monkeys are a nightmare for sure, but please there has to be some better way to deal with this…how about Tehran? North Korea?
I hope they will soon that other annoying singing monkey in the USA known as Mariah Carey…when i look at her face ( which is hard without puking) i know Darwin was right, we do descend from Monkeys and Mariah Missed a few steps on her way….She should be cast in Planet of the Apes.
Hello:
I live 1 hour from Gibraltar, and have to say that the FAULT OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE APES IS BEACUSE OF THE government of Gibraltar.For many many years they have trated the monkeys like if they where gods or something like that.If they treat the monkeys LIKE ANIMALS,so that´s what they are¡¡¡ this will never happens.
There´s a BIG POSTER at the entrance of the terrace on the top of the rock wich says that if you just do something to them even to protect yourself, you can go TO JAIL.
So think about that, poor animals, they just do what they are used to do.
And only because the britsh think that if they dissapear from the rock, they will lost Gibraltar.
And the most funny is that the ROCK WAS NEVER FROM BRITAIN¡¡¡
This could be a movie … like the old horror "the birds" This is "the Monkeys"
LOL
Re: amanda –
that sounds terrifying! they were EVERYWHERE. it is hard to avoid them. Not to mention the road that takes you to the top of the rock is like 20 feet wide. You had no where to run. But the view is spectacular once you are up there. Sorry to hear they got you!
Helen Thirlway's statement re mismanagement of the monkeys is kind of silly. They have found a proper way to manage them via lethal injection.
lame as it sounds,im scared of monkeys after an scary 'encounter' with one of them in gibraltar a few years ago.but killing them?! honestly thats unfair
Re: Melanie – hahahaha luckily it was a baby so it was only about a foot and a half tall maybe, so it was more hilarious than anything… but we still left after that.. i did manage to get a bunch of pictures from up there though, you're right its suuch an amazing view
there is a legend that says that if Gibraltar lost their monkeys Great Britain will lost the rock and it would come back to Spain
I dont understand people that put ANIMALS before HUMANS. What are they supposed to do let wild monkeys break into their homes and STEAL their shit and BITE them? Do you want a monkey or any animal for that matter BREAKING into your home and BITING you? They are not clobbering them to death they sedate them and then give them the lethal injection. STOP PUTTING ANIMALS BEFORE HUMANS these are the same type of people that find it hard to leave their change in the unicef box but will WRITE A CHEQUE for animal rights
Leave the monkeys alone. Let them kill us. We deserve it.
thats so horrible…if people where out and about being a nuisance you dont go about killing them.
And even more they don't understand the way of things or the rules us humans make. They should be moved or something but not killed just because humans don't want to deal with it. That's insane and wrong.
i have been to gibralta and i had one of the monkeys sit on my head and they were fine, we went there for the monkeys they are not killin the tourism they are making it, they are the only part of europe that has monkeys im so sad they are killing them!
KILL THEM ALL! I AM A SUPPORTER OR P.E.T.A. BUT MONKEYS ARE DISCUSING DISEASE RIDDEN ANIMALS. THEY R VERY AGGRESSIVE AND MEAN. THEY SHOULD NOT BE PETS AND SHOULD ONLY BE IN ZOO'S AND SANCAURIES.
Blame it on the tourists and the people who live there.
These monkeys got used to their environment. Got used to being fed and lured w/ food, and all of that mess and they got too comfortable so started doing what they're doing.
It's OUR fault, and once again, it's the animals who pay for it. Poor things.
great another species gone!! aholes..they are ruinin our wold
I dont get the big deal. I dont believe we should save every monkey at the expence of human wellfare. Over 90% of the species that have ever existed on this planet are extinct. And not because of humans either. Right now humans are dominating the planet, but it wont last forever. We will be extinct one day to. Get over it!
NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monkeys have tails, apes don't. The Prime Minister needs to educate himself before he speaks…these are monkeys! It was the monkeys' land first…people should be more responsible…if they hadn't fed the animals and desensitized them to people, then the monkeys wouldn't be this way.
I went there a few years ago. The monkeys were jumping in there poo and pee and than right on to peoples back. It was disgusting!
Monkey poo…..eewwww….
I have been to the Rock of Gibraltar and those monkeys climbed all over our tour bus and tried getting in the window. They are no joke. A few of us students got out of the bus (this was of course 13 years ago) to see the "cute" monkeys and one of those bastards reached into my pocket and stole my chapstick, then ate it!! They are everywhere.
Regardless of the monkey problem I HIGHLY recommend seeing this place. It is the southernmost tip of Spain and at one spot you can see the mountains of Africa across the Mediterranean. Breathtaking!!
"What has to stop is the damage that apes are doing to Gibraltar, private properties and individuals without anyone taking responsibility for it," …
UM HUMANS destroy more of Gibraltar than a bunch of lil ole monkeys !
hey iv lived in Gibraltar all my life and as long as u dont hav food they dont always hurt u
They were really scary when I was there. But, poor, infested, scary monkeys!
I want to take a huge dump right now
fucking disgrace!! that place is a shit hole FULL OF IGNORANTS.
Re: monika – Monica, they are not spics (which is derogatory for hispanic) but SPANISH. There is difference between Latinos and Europeans.
Re: yvesoflight – stop being an ass !!! people aren't putting animals before people. LOOK HOW MANY OF US ARE WE and how we hate each other learn from "animals" they don't make wars and polute the plannet like us!!! WTF YOU ARE ABOUT. People who are complaning abut killing innocent animals are asking the supostly more intellingent animal (US)to find other ways before taking life like that. WHere IS THE FUCKING RESPECT FOR LIFE OR NATURE. by the way we are also animals.
"Children are frightened, people cannot leave their windows open for fear of the monkeys stealing, apes can bite and contact with them runs the risk of salmonella or hepatitis,"
OOOOOk…so why not do that to all the Pedophiles, Rapist and Criminals…they poses the same threat to all or many WORST!!!!!!
Re: Been there – well if they are gonna to kill monkeys like that i will not be going, i can't stand selfish people with not respect for nature.
I'm from Gibraltar and I think it's sad that the situation has gotten so out of control that we have to cull some of the monkeys, but hey! what ever has to be done to protect the llanitos, hopefully this will be a lesson for the future and we won't feed them extra.
Re: monika – I hope you weren't refering to the Gibraltarian population as Spics because I swear to God you will have people from here (Gibraltar)burning down your house. It's a touchy subject.
Re: Patri – Blah blah blah , you are just following your government you know nothing about this situation and why we don't want to be panish .. so stop looking like a lile sheep and believeing what your government tells you, actually learn about Gibraltar and how it is infact Brittish and the only reaosn wants it is because WE control the whole strait of Gibraltar .. it is nothing to do with the hundreds of years of different ruling it is all political shi so ge over it … Bahhhh haahhh
Okay, I have been to Gibraltar and the monkeys there are a little scary. I was just standing in a spot and a monkey jumped on my shoulder! It was freaky, but I don't think they should kill the monkeys just because stupid people leave their windows open. I think the problem seems to be the public isn't taking responsibility for their actions.
Hey
I come from Gibraltar but live in england
and just came back from there and the monkeys are sooo cute
but they stole my sisters food
Did you hear anything about this when you were there?
I have lived in Gibraltar all my life, and honestly I can agree with what the government is doing, you have no idea what it is like for the monkeys to trash your bedroom and steal precious necklaces that have been in your family for many years. These monkeys are roaming free and unless we can keep them under control they are going to get worse. Notice there were no problems like this in the 90's when there were only around 120 monkeys. I am sad it has come to such extreme measures though, it was always the last resort. I will be upset that we are losing part of Gibraltar this way.
Sorry, having been there many times, these monkeys are aggressive as well as violent. They run in huge packs and the numbers can get quite out of control on this small island. Deprivation hunts are common to reduce the numbers with many animals. They are not doing this in a cruel fashion, they are doing it for the safety of their residents and tourists. I would never boycott Gibraltar, it is absolutely beautiful and as an animal lover, I agree with what they are doing. If you have never been there, you can not accurately weigh in on this. Perez, have a brain and use it for some common sense for once.
oh yeah they're real smart.
spelling MONKIES wrong.
SPANK THAT MONKEY!!
I've been there and those monkeys are scary!!!!!!
i went there over spring break, and actually, one of the monkeys did attack me. i did not provoke it in anyway. i merely walked past it and it jumped on me and beared its teeth and i screamed and screamed until a spanish man helped me lol. then, as we were driving away, one of the monkeys jumped into our car as we had the window open. there are definitely problems but these monkeys don't have to be killed! just put them in a large caged area or something.
fuck the monkeys! kill them all and make purses out of em' and fuck peta.. imma go get my a steak!!!
Re: kristina – would you like 500 monkeys in your backyard you stupid bitch?
Kill those motherfuckers.
I am from Gibraltar, and am really angry at this cull … The monkeys ARE too many and too aggressive, but the way to deal with that is prevention, not slaughtering them every few years or so! The environment agency & GONHS NGO in Gib know which packs live where, are aware of many apes as individuals - surely sterilisation of a few every year is more humane as population control? As for their aggressive behaviour, they need to ENFORCE the "don't feed the monkeys junk food" rule for a start - the monkeys only attack tourists & taxis for food because they're used to finding it: therefore those who feed the apes crap (they are provided with proper fruit at the feeding places) put in jeopardy themselves and all the other innocent tourists who haven't tried to feed the monkeys!
Incredible amounts of money flood into Gibraltar every year - it's £7 a head to enter the Upper Rock Reserve, and thousands if not millions come to Gib every year - why isn't more of that being used on maintaining the Upper Rock facilities and nature reserve, including our most famous tourist attraction bar the Rock itself?
Ahem. /end rant.
noo!!
I've been to Gibraltar, and one of the monkeys came and sat on my friend's head and they were SUPER cute, cuddly, and not at all dangerous! I don't understand, I didn't see one thing that could have endangered somebody. Also, you can TOTALLY open windows. The monkeys will only bite if they're endangered by someone.
loving the gibraltar news perez!!!!
Now I'm pissed off. You people get all emotional for some monkeys but how many of you raised an eyebrow when the same authorities shot dead many African border crossers for trying to enter Spain, a couple of years ago? Sorry but I just cannot care less for monkeys when real massacres involving *humans* are perpetrated in the same region.