Barbados monkeys

These cheeky chappies can often be seen foraging for food on farmland and around people’s homes.

The fella in the video was filmed at the bottom of a Christ Church garden.

He was tucking into a soursop – the prickly fruit turned into a drink by Bajans.

West Africa

Farmers consider the monkeys pests. There’s a bounty on them too – hunters are paid per tail by the government.

But it is possible for humans to live side by side with the Barbados monkeys.

There is large group of Barbados monkeys at Rockley Golf Club, particularly on the first and third holes.

Barbados monkeys arrived here from West Africa on the slave ships during the 17th and 18th centuries.

They were kept as pets, but then escaped and established themselves on the island.

Cruel Practice

If you see a monkey on the end of a chain, don’t pay the man at the other end.

The monkey is always a juvenile and was most likely stolen from its mother, who was probably killed.

This is a cruel practice, designed to elicit cash from tourists at the monkey’s expense.

And when the monkey grows up and ceases to be so cute, it’s either killed or released. It’s unlikely to survive. It will starve and won’t be accepted by other monkeys.

Welchman Hall Gully - learn more.

This photo of a monkey eating a cricket (click to enlarge) was taken by Phil Smith at Welchman Hall Gully, where there is a long-established troop of monkeys.

They live in the wild in and around the gully, but are fed bananas every day by staff which helps when food is scarce.