All articles tagged with #geophagy
Researchers studying 230 Barbary macaques in Gibraltar found those with more access to tourists’ calorie-dense snacks eat dirt about 12 times a week, suggesting geophagy buffers the digestive impact of high-calorie, low-fiber junk food and may aid gut bacteria; the behavior is more common in seasons with more tourists and is absent in groups with no tourist access.
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.
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.