Costa de la Luz
Tourist boycott of Gibraltar called in protest at monkey cull
By h.b.
Apr 16, 2008 - 7:40 AM

Protests have been called against Gibraltar following the news that it plans to cull some of its famous Barbary Monkeys which locals say have come a public nuisance.
Animal protection organisations in Spain and elsewhere have threatened a boycott of Gibraltar if the kill, reportedly to kill at least 25 of the animals, goes ahead.

The International Primate Protection League has threatened a tourist boycott of the Rock. Gibraltar Tourism Minister, Ernest Britto, said that the cull of 25 monkeys in Catalan Bay and Sandy Bay had already been authorised and announced the introduction of some type of birth control. He also confirmed that two animals had been killed by lethal injection already.

Legend has it that if the monkeys leave the Rock, then Gibraltar will no longer be British. During the second world war numbers were so low that Winston Churchill ordered the importation of dozens more, b brought over from North Africa.

More information: www.ippl.org

(Environment story)