Tourists Linked to Dirt-Eating in Gibraltar Macaques, Study Finds
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.