Gibraltar Monkeys Eat Soil to Soothe Stomachs After Tourists' Junk Food

55 articles · Updated · Gizmodo · Apr 22

Gibraltar's Barbary macaques have been observed eating soil to ease stomach upsets caused by consuming junk food from tourists.
Researchers found dirt-eating, or geophagy, is more common in monkeys with frequent tourist contact and peaks during holiday seasons.
Scientists believe this behaviour helps macaques buffer their digestive systems and rebalance gut microbiomes disrupted by high-calorie, low-fibre snacks.

How can Gibraltar protect its famous monkeys from our global junk food culture?

Why are some monkeys choosing to eat toxic road tar instead of natural clay?

Is the secret to gut health for these junk-food-eating monkeys literally found in the soil?

Could the macaques' junk food 'cure' be more dangerous than the disease itself?

Are Gibraltar's monkeys teaching their young a life-saving trick or a dangerous new habit?