Gibraltar macaques use soil to dodge junk-food bellyache
TL;DR Summary
Researchers documented soil-eating (geophagy) in Barbary macaques around Gibraltar, noting more soil consumption in groups that eat more human snacks like chocolate and ice cream. The behavior may help buffer stomach upset and potentially microbiome disruption from junk food, could be socially learned, and varied by group with some having no access to human food. More research is needed to understand the gut-related benefits.
- Gibraltar's monkeys find clever way to avoid junk food bellyache The Jerusalem Post
- Monkeys in Gibraltar self-medicate with soil to help them digest tourists' junk food Phys.org
- Gibraltar’s monkeys eat mud ‘to avoid upset stomachs from tourist junk food’ The Guardian
- Monkeys have found a bizarre natural supplement to counteract human junk food BBC Science Focus Magazine
- Monkeys learn to self-medicate with soil to help them digest junk food University of Cambridge
Reading Insights
Total Reads
0
Unique Readers
5
Time Saved
11 min
vs 12 min read
Condensed
97%
2,332 → 64 words
Want the full story? Read the original article
Read on The Jerusalem Post