The Barbary Macaque in North Africa

Abstract

Destruction of the native forests is the chief reason for the decline of the Barbary macaque Macaca sylvanus in Morocco and Algeria, its last wild refuges. (This is the monkey that occurs in a semi-wild state on Gibraltar.) The wild populations now are mostly small and widely separated, and the few that are in protected areas are unfortunately not the most viable. The author spent 15 months on a behavioral study of the macaque in Morocco in 1973-74, and three months on a survey in both countries, partly aided by an FPS Oryx 100% Fund grant. After his report, which underlines the urgency of protecting some of the Middle Atlas cedar forests, was presented the Moroccan Government inivited him to advise them on wildlife management and conservation programmes, including the development of national parks. © 1978, Fauna and Flora International. All rights reserved.