Barbary Ape Macaca Sylvanus
Animals in our sanctuary
Fibi (female)
Fibi was bought as a very young baby monkey at the market in Marrakech, Morocco. She was smuggled through the airport, anesthetized, and tightly wrapped like a package. Upon arrival, she was given an antidote. Fibi endured severe trauma—the loss of her parents, being taken from her natural habitat, and being forced to live like a human. In 2010, police spotted a woman in a marketplace pushing a pram with a small Barbary macaque inside, dressed in a pink jacket and diaper. Fibi was seized and brought to the AAP Foundation. Now, she has found a new Berber family at De Zonnegloed, where she can finally enjoy a bright future.
Cheetah (Male)
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In Antwerp, a woman illegally kept a cheetah in her apartment. When the animal escaped onto the balcony, local residents quickly took notice, causing mild panic and prompting a police intervention. Investigations revealed that the woman lacked official papers for the cheetah—something she was well aware of, as she hastily relocated the animal. With a search warrant, police later found it confined in a small cage. Fortunately, De Zonnegloed could offer him a new home, where he now thrives in a spacious enclosure among his own kind.
Quart (Male)
In 2008, Quart, together with another male, was found astray in the streets of Gerona (Spain). They were in Depana, a Spanish NGO. Quart arrived at Stichting AAP in 2009 where he was introduced to other Barbary macaques.
Aziza (female)
Aziza was found after a private owner in Germany abandoned the house. She arrived at Stichting AAP in 2013 where she was introduced to other Barbary macaques.
Capsien (female)
Capsien was brought to a horse sanctuary in France by the local fire brigade. She arrived at Stichting AAP in 2013 where she was introduced to other Barbary macaques.
Appearance
The Barbary macaque is a medium-sized macaque with a thick ochre-gray coat. The crown, hands, and feet have an orange tint, while its bare face is pink. A distinctive feature of this species is the absence of a tail, which is rare among macaques. It has relatively long limbs, short broad hands, and cheek pouches for storing food.
Males are larger and heavier than females. They have a body length of 55 to 70 cm and weigh between 12 and 15 kg. Females are about 10 cm shorter on average and weigh between 8 and 10 kg.
Behavior
Barbary macaques are social animals that live in groups of 7 to 40 individuals. Within the group, males work together to drive away predators. Females remain in the same group for their entire lives, while males leave after reaching sexual maturity and either join another group or live alone temporarily. They communicate using various body postures and vocalizations and are active during the day.
Diet
Barbary macaques are omnivores, with a diet primarily consisting of plant material. They eat seeds, leaves, buds, grass, flowers, bark, and mushrooms. They also feed on insects, caterpillars, and small birds. Thanks to their cheek pouches, they can quickly gather food and eat it later in a safe location.
Habitat
The Barbary macaque inhabits the cedar and oak forests of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and Algeria, at elevations of up to 2,000 meters. A small population also lives on Gibraltar, where it is artificially maintained. Fossil evidence suggests that this species once lived in Europe as well.
Reproduction
During the mating season, the female's rump swells, signaling that she is ready to mate. After a gestation period of 158 to 170 days, a single infant is usually born between February and June. Barbary macaques are unique among macaques because males play an active role in caring for the young. They carry and protect the infants and show great interest in their upbringing.
Young Barbary macaques are weaned after seven months and reach sexual maturity at about four years for females and five and a half years for males. Males leave their birth group upon reaching adulthood and seek a new group.
Threats
The Barbary macaque is classified as "Endangered" by the IUCN. Deforestation for agriculture, illegal trade, and hunting pose significant threats. In Morocco and Algeria, Barbary macaques are often traded as pets, despite being difficult to domesticate. Many of these monkeys eventually end up in specialized rescue centers, such as Stichting AAP.
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