Wildlife

A visit to Gibraltar is the key to a rich, diverse and fascinating world of wildlife.

In a den high on the Rock live Gibraltar's most famous residents, the Barbary Apes, the only wild primates in all Europe. Friendly, charming and inquisitive, the apes have lived on the Rock for centuries. Legend says that when the apes leave, Gibraltar will cease to be British.

In the seas around Gibraltar the diversity of life is just as great. Sail into the bay and, more often than not, your boat will be followed by flying fish and schools of leaping dolphin.

Great efforts are made to ensure that the Rock's natural environment is kept as unspoilt and beautiful for future visitors as it is today. A large area of the upper rock has been designated as a nature reserve and famous public park, the Alameda gardens, has recently introduced a new wildlife park to their grounds.

Barbary Apes
At the Apes' Den (Queen's Gate) and in the area of the Great Siege Tunnels there is the rare opportunity to see semi-wild primates at close quarters. If you let them, the monkeys will be their captivating selves and behave in their everyday natural manner.

The Apes are a species of tailless monkeys called Barbary Macaques. These Macaques can be found in Morocco and Algeria, with those in Gibraltar being the only free-living monkeys in Europe today.

There are about 160 monkeys living in Gibraltar in two main areas. About 20 of them at Apes' Den can be observed closely. Male and female youngsters can often be seen playing together. They are vulnerable, so please keep your distance!

If you see only a few active monkeys on site at first, be patient! Look carefully at the cliff/trees where you will probably spot some more. They spend over 30% of their day interacting with visitors but remember, they are still semi-wild animals. They need time to rest and take part in other 'monkey activities', free from interference.

The welfare of the Barbary Apes is now in the hands of the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society and the R.S.P.C.A. For further information please visit www.gib.gi/gonhs

Dolphins
Gibraltar’s favourable Mediterranean climate makes for sightings of a variety of rare species of birds, dolphins, whales, fish and turtles.  Dolphins can be found in various haunts around the coast of Gibraltar where they feed on sardines, herring, squid, anchovies and flying fish and have been known to dive to a depth of about 280 metres.

A dolphin-watching trip is the most enjoyable way of seeing these fascinating mammals up close and there are several boat trips to choose from. In addition to no fewer than three species of dolphin, whales also migrate here, including the largest mammal of them all, the Blue Whale. For more information on dolphin trips in Gibraltar, please visit our Dolphins page.

Upper Rock Nature Reserve
In the spring and autumn the rock is a staging post for millions of migrating birds, in particular, large roaming raptors such as eagles, vultures and buzzards. Resident species include Peregrine Falcon, Blue Rock thrush and the rare Barbary Partridge. For more information on bird watching please visit our Bird Watching page.

The Alameda Gardens Wildlife Park
This small animal park is a haven for animals seized by Customs or Police. Its main purpose is to house animals that have been confiscated by the authorities having been illegally captured from the wild and imported into Gibraltar.  While they cannot be returned to the wild, they are well looked after and used for conservation and educational purposes. For more information please visit www.gibraltargardens.gi