Rock of Gibraltar model for Casterly Rock.

If you're in Spain and would like to get a book signed, hear me talk, hear me read, ask me a few questions, turn up at one of these events. I'll be glad to meet you. I especially recommend Semana Negra, the amazing pop culture festival in Gijon, which will feature lots of other exciting guests from the worlds of mystery, comics, SF, fantasy, thrillers, from all over the world, and a carnival to boot. Parris and I had a wonderful time the last time we attended, eating dinner at midnight and drinking sangria in the booth of the red chicken.

I also hope to make it down south to visit the Rock of Gibraltar (my model for Casterly Rock) and the Alhambra, but so far no public events are scheduled for that portion of the tour. If that changes, new events will be adding on my appearances page.

May. 29th, 2008 at 12:27 AM
Retrieved from "http://grrm.livejournal.com/44684.html

See also "http://towerofthehand.com/blog/2008/05/29_viaja_a_espana/index.html"

Gibraltar Barbary Macaques

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibraltar_Barbary_Macaques"

A Barbary Macaque sitting on a railing. The Rock of Gibraltar can be seen in the background.

The Barbary Macaque population in Gibraltar is the last in the whole of the European continent, which, unlike that of North Africa, is thriving. At present there are some 230 animals in five troops occupying the area of the Upper Rock, though occasional forays into the town may result in damages to personal property. As they are a tailless species, they are also known locally as Barbary Apes or Rock Apes despite the fact that they are monkeys (Macaca sylvanus). Forming a double paradox, locals simply refer to them as monos (Spanish: monkeys) when conversing in Spanish or Llanito (the local vernacular).

The Barbary Macaque is considered Gibraltar's unofficial national animal.

This young Barbary Macaque will form part of a group of 25 to 70 individuals, an assemblage of several Gibraltar monkey families.

The Barbary Macaques are considered by many to be the top tourist attraction in Gibraltar. The most popular troop is that of Queen's Gate at The Apes' Den, where people can get especially close to the monkeys. They will often approach and sometimes climb onto people as they are used to human interaction. Nevertheless, they are still wild animals and will bite if frightened or annoyed.[3]

The Barbary Macaques' contact with large numbers of tourists was causing the integrity of their social groups to break down, as they began to become dependent on humans. This induced the monkeys' urge to foray into the town, resulting in damages to personal property such as buildings, clothing and vehicles. For this reason, feeding the macaques in Gibraltar is now an offence punishable by law. Anyone caught feeding the monkeys will incur a penalty fine of up to £500.[4]

The monkeys are currently managed by the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society (GONHS) and veterinarian expertise is provided by the Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic (GVC). The macaques receive a daily supply of fresh water and vegetables, fruit and seeds as supplement to natural food resources (leaves, olives, roots, seeds and flowers). The animals are caught on a regular basis in order to check their health status. Additionally, body size, weight and several other measures are taken. Finally, the animals are given a tattoo number and a micro chip as a means of identification. But tattoos are not the only way to recognise animals. Barbary macaques quite often show particular marks, scars or spots which can be used as distinguishing features. All monkeys are photographed and the pictures together with individual characteristics catalogued. Cataloguing work is carried out by the GONHS, and there are collaborative studies also with the Scientific Institute of Rabat-Agdal University (Morocco), University of Notre Dame (Indiana, USA), the University of Vienna (Austria), the German Primate Centre (Germany) and the University of Zurich (Switzerland).

Once every year, a census is conducted in order to actualise data and monitor reproductive success of the whole population. These demographic data are important for the management of the population generally, but also when it comes to the point of fertility regulation in selected individuals. Since Barbary macaque females reproduce well, the population on Gibraltar is steadily increasing, which in turn puts pressure on the limited habitat. Population control is therefore an essential part of the effective management of the Gibraltar monkey population.[5]