Brought in for Sport, Gibraltar’s ‘Nuisance’ Barbary Apes now Set to be Killed

“Take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty apes!” Oh, for the love of Charlton Heston.

Barbary macaques, thought to have been introduced to Gibraltar in the 18th century by British soldiers for use as target practice, are now finding themselves in danger once again after becoming ‘nuisances’.

From the Telegraph:

Ernest Britto, Gibraltar’s tourist minister, defended the plans for the cull, saying: “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.”

Vets are to track down the tearaways and put them down by lethal injection. Two have already been killed.

When will we ever learn? Humans eff with nature and get burned. It happens again and again, and yet each time we’re surprised. I find it sort of funny but ultimately sad that these people are indignant about apes acting like, well, apes. As if it wouldn’t be more shocking if they started donning trousers and politely tipping their hats at people saying, ‘Good day, m’lady’. Cause, I think the heretofore mentioned legendary actor illustrated brilliantly what would come about if that were the case in the classic ‘Planet of the Apes’.

Link [Telegraph]

Photo: Fox Home Entertainment

Related Posts:

Great Apes Achieve Rights on Par with Humans in Spain
Under Pressure from Conservationists, eBay Set to Ban Sale of Ivory
Current Regulations Allow Cattle to be Transported for 52 Hours Without Food or Water
Buckingham Palace Guardsmen May Get Designer Fur-Free Hats
Greenies Win Some, Lose Some in Historic Election