Barbary macaques in Gibraltar

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Originally from the Atlas Mountains and the Rif of Morocco, the Barbary macaque population in Gibraltar is the only wild monkey population on the European continent. Although most Barbary monkey populations in the African continent (specifically Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco) are experiencing decline due to hunting and deforestation, the Gibraltar population is increasing. As of 2020, some 300 animals in five troops occupy the Upper Rock area of the Gibraltar Nature Reserve, though they make occasional forays into the town. Barbary macaques are classified as monkeys (Macaca sylvanus), yet they are known locally and erroneously as "Barbary apes", "rock apes" or "lesser apes" because they are a tailless simian species. Spanish-speakers simply refer to them as monos (English: monkeys) when conversing in Spanish.

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