Tourists Linked to Dirt-Eating in Gibraltar Macaques, Study Finds
TL;DR
A Scientific Reports study finds Gibraltar's Barbary macaques eat soil (geophagy) more in areas with tourists, likely to soothe stomachs after consuming junk food and dairy from visitors; the behavior varies by troop and underscores how wildlife adapts to human presence, highlighting the need for strict feeding controls and further research on soil minerals and gut microbiomes.
- Scientists Figured Out Why These Monkeys Eat Dirt. The Key Is Tourists Gizmodo
- Gibraltar’s monkeys eat mud ‘to avoid upset stomachs from tourist junk food’ The Guardian
- These monkeys are literally eating dirt to help digest human junk food Scientific American
- Monkeys eating soil to settle upset stomachs from junk food, says research Sky News
- Monkeys hooked on Haribo eat soil to settle their stomachs The Times
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