Group of Gibraltar's Barbary Apes to be Killed

Now that's just great. You would think they would make efforts to capture and relocate the little trouble makers before just killing them off like this. That is apparently not the case, though.



Last resort? I say if you can capture and kill them by lethal injection, you can capture and relocate them out of harm's way.

The British Army is responsible for their care.



I think there needs to be a public outcry about this. We are supposed to be stewards of the environment. God Himself has given us dominion over the creatures of the earth. If this is how we are going to go about it, we don't deserve the job.

stories like this make me mad as h-ll!!!!!!!! who do we, people, think we are???

these monkees have every right to be and survive,,,, we keep destroying any and all open lands,,, encroaching animals envoronments and get p-ssed when they become a nuisance.. we ruin everything,,,, where is nature to live????

i live in nj and people are up in arms bears and some wild coyotes have been scouring outskirts of neighborhoods, and same thing "kill em", problem solved. nj is the most densely populated per square mile, of course this is gonna happen... we overtake their habitats and get mad because they're around,,,, animals don't relocate,,,and besides we're the problem.


how dare these animals show there faces and not hide from us or relocate so we as "king" humans won't be inconvienenced.

the nerve of us idiotic humans,,,, and it's as if people can't connect the fact we are taking their land,,,, not them invading us

geez!!!!!

It's all very well crying about having to kill some monkeys, but take a step back for a minute.

These monkeys have learned this behaviour and recapturing them and releasing them will just mean they will come back and continue the harassment. They are quite capable of harming humans, especially small children. They know they can get food from humans and have no fear of humans.

On a territory the size of Gibraltar, where exactly are you going to locate them that is away from humans? There's only 2.6 square miles of land to start with.

They could be captured and relocated to the wild in Africa. Why do they have to stay on Gibraltar? The article states, in the last quote I posted, that the British Army has replenished the population with apes from Africa in the past. Why can't the process work in reverse? What kind of sense does it make to bring the apes over to Gibraltar just to kill them? I'd say the problem was created by the British Army bringing the apes to the rock to begin with.

reply to post by Icarus Rising

---

The MONKEYS (not Apes) were on the Rock before the British ever arrived. They have been restocked when numbers were low, but only because of a superstition that says if the monkeys ever leave the Rock, then the British will as well.

Because the monkeys are accustomed to Humans, they wouldn't live five minutes back in Africa, where they don't know how to survive. I'm sure death by injection is better than death by starvation.

The article calls them Barbary Apes, so I am sticking with that, regardless of your belittling attempts at correction. As if there is any differece between monkeys and apes when it comes to killing them needlessly.

Again, the article says the apes have moved into this area. Before they moved into the area near the resort, they must have been foraging for themselves. If the apes were captured and relocated to Africa, it is highly likely they would go back to foraging for their food.

I reject what I consider your flawed assumptions and callous conclusions. You are, however, entitled to make them, as you wish. It would seem to me that if the British army is superstitious about Barbary Apes staying on Gibraltar, they would be doubly concerned about killing them, for any reason.

An Orca isn't a Whale, but it's still called a Killer Whale. Big difference between monkeys and apes. If you feel it belittling, then perhaps you should do some research before spouting your mouth off.



What resort? Do you know anything about Gibraltar?

It's 2.6 square miles in size. It consists of a town, a hrabour and an airport. Thats it. Oh, and a dirty great Rock.

All the monkeys there are used to humans and regularly pester people for food, forage in bins and steal from people. This particular group has become such a nuisance that they need to be got rid of.



I reject your tree-hugging, save-all-animals-just-because lack of knowledge about an area you probably didn't know existed until you read the article. It is plainly obvious you know nothing of the territory. I've actually been there when my father was in the Army. My brother was also there during his time in the Navy.

reply to post by stumason

---

Oh, yes it is. All dolphins are whales. Do you know anything about whales, or do you just enjoy sticking your foot in your mouth?



Luxury hotel/resort, dolphin/whale, what's the difference? And what is a hrabour?

I am a hunter and fisherman, not a tree-hugger. I respect nature. What I consider needless, unnecessary killing always bothers me. No, I've never been to Gibraltar, though my brother has and he told me about it. I'm happy for you that you have been there, but based on your perspective, I don't think it has done you much good.

Peace.

reply to post by Icarus Rising

---

Haha, dolphins aren't whales. Don't be a fool. They're cetaceans, but not whales. Thats like saying we're rats, as rats are mammals too....

From your own link:



Bottom line is, these monkeys are a threat to humans and are obviously not eligible for relocation, otherwise that would have been an option. The UK has very strict laws regarding animal welfare, so this is not just some chap signing their death warrant for the sake of killing some monkeys.

Also from the same link:



Nothing like rats and humans, though some humans certainly act like rats. I see you didn't touch the luxury hotel/resort bit.

Anyway, I appreciate your statement that the authorities have investigated every option and have no choice but to humanely euthanize (if there is such a thing) the monkeys.

I respect your contributions to ATS and apologize for my snotty tone. Let's carry on, shall we?

reply to post by Icarus Rising

---

We could quibble over animal family trees all day, but I doubt we'd ever agree. To me, I have always been taught Whales and Dolphins are separate, if related, animals. Same as monkeys and apes.

I didn't touch the resort bit as Gibraltar isn't a resort. If anything, it's what remains of 300 years of extensive military fortification. I didn't feel the need to argue over the fact. It's a nice place though, you should visit

I probably came across as aloof and snotty too. Sorry old bean

For the record, I don't like "culling" animals much either, but sometimes, for the sake of the larger population being able to exist alongside humans or for their own welfare at large, it is necessary.

The same thing is happening in Africa with elephants. Due to the massive amount of protection they get now and breeding programmes, their numbers have shot up so much that the environment cannot handle them. For the sake of the larger population, some must be culled so enough food exists for all, otherwise the whole ecosystem is threatened.

I understand. I just don't equate dolphins/whales with rats as pointy nosed humans.

How do you explain sperm whales, pilot whales, and other toothed whales? I thought the division was between baleen whales and toothed whales with dolphins belonging to the latter.

I guess it is kind of like asking if corn is a vegetable or a grain. I grew up thinking it was a vegetable, but now I lean toward grain.

I realize Gibraltar isn't a resort. There does seem to be a luxury hotel in the Catalan Bay area, though.

Sometimes there is no recourse but to cull animals. I am satisfied from our discourse that authorities are conviced there is no other viable option here.