Gibraltar Monkeys Eat Soil to Counter Junk Food Effects
Research indicates that Gibraltar's macaque monkeys have learned to eat soil to self-medicate stomach disorders caused by consuming junk food from tourists. This behavior helps them digest the unusual diet and settle their stomachs.
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Gibraltar’s monkeys eat mud ‘to avoid upset stomachs from tourist junk food’
Macaques have learned to eat soil to avert gut irritation caused by salty and sugary snacks, researchers believe Troops of monkeys living on the Rock of Gibraltar have learned to eat soil in what scientists believe is an effort to settle their stomachs after all the junk food they receive – and sometimes steal – from crowds of tourists. Researchers spotted the intentional mud eating, known as geophagy, while observing groups of Barbary macaques in the territory. Monkeys that had the most cont...
By Ian Sample Science editor
Read full article →Monkeys hooked on Haribo eat soil to settle their stomachs - The Times
Monkeys hooked on Haribo eat soil to settle their stomachs The Times
Read full article →Monkeys learn to swallow soil so they can keep eating junk food – research
Scientists believe the dirt also provides bacteria and minerals absent from junk food.
By Sam Russell
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