University of Gibraltar Celebrate Official Opening of the Maritime Academy Simulation Centre
8 September 2026 | NEWS
This study explored how tourist presence shapes Barbary macaque behaviour in Gibraltar’s Upper Rock Nature Reserve.
By comparing two key sites, Prince Phillip’s Arch (PPA), a confined area with high tourist traffic, and St Michael’s Cave (SMC), a more open and less crowded location, the research revealed notable behavioural differences. Macaques at PPA exhibited significantly higher grooming, vigilance, and self-directed behaviours (indicators of stress), as well as greater aggression, likely driven by space limitations and close proximity to visitors. In contrast, macaques at SMC were observed foraging and moving more frequently, likely a result of the open terrain and dispersed tourist presence. The findings suggest that tourist density and site-specific habitat structures play an important role in shaping macaque behaviour.
The researchers also found that human interactions such as visitor feeding were common at both sites, but even more frequent at SMC, further emphasising the influence of habitat and tourist distribution on macaque activity.
These findings highlight the need for site-specific management, like regulating tourist access, enforcing no-feeding policies, and enhancing habitat design to reduce stress on wildlife.
