Gibraltar monkeys have recently been observed engaging in a surprising behavior: eating dirt. This habit may be a response to the adverse effects of human junk food, as detailed in a study published in Scientific Reports.
This unusual eating behavior seems to help the monkeys manage digestive issues caused by tourist treats, particularly when lactose-intolerant individuals consume ice cream.
According to Dr. Sylvain Lemoine, a biological anthropologist at the University of Cambridge, “Food consumed by Gibraltar’s monkeys is often high in calories, sugar, salt, and dairy, which is starkly different from their natural diet of herbs, leaves, seeds, and occasional insects.”
“Eating dirt may enable them to indulge in these unhealthy yet appealing foods, similar to how humans enjoy them,” he added.
A research team studied 230 monkeys in Gibraltar, finding that each monkey consumed dirt approximately 12 times per week.
Interestingly, geophagy (the act of eating soil) decreased by 40% during winter compared to the tourist-heavy summer months.
Furthermore, researchers noted that monkeys with a higher frequency of human interaction—and consequently junk food consumption—exhibited more geophagy. In fact, three groups of eight macaque monkeys residing in tourist areas accounted for 72% of geophagy incidents.
Conversely, the only group of monkeys without access to tourist-provided snacks was also the group that did not eat soil.
The study concluded that geophagy is directly linked to junk food, suggesting that it acts as a gut health supplement, mitigating the negative effects of cookies, ice cream, and other snacks on the monkeys’ microbiomes.
“Macaques may have developed this behavior to protect their digestive systems from the high-energy, low-fiber snacks that can lead to stomach issues in primates,” explained Dr. Lemoine.
“Soil can serve as a barrier in the gastrointestinal tract, reducing the absorption of harmful substances, and may even provide beneficial bacteria that assist in gut health.”
Different groups of monkeys showed distinct soil preferences; while most favored red clay, one group preferred tar-rich soils from potholes – Credit: Martin Nicourt/Gibraltar Macaques Project
Such geophagy isn’t unique to Gibraltar’s monkeys; ring-tailed lemurs consume dirt an average of 16 times a week, while East African chimpanzees do so about 14 times. This behavior is also observed in human cultures, particularly during pregnancy.
Geophagy is notably rare among Barbary macaques of North Africa, the ancestral population of Gibraltar’s monkeys.
Remarkably, a group of monkeys at Hong Kong’s Jamshan Country Park has been documented eating dirt over 33 times a week, likely due to their high consumption of human junk food.
Dr. Lemoine emphasized the study’s implications regarding human influence on animal behavior and culture.
“Gibraltar’s monkeys represent a unique case of human-primate interaction, offering valuable insights into how anthropogenic environments impact primate behavior and culture,” he noted.
The undeniable truth is that SXSW Sydney, now in its third year, continues to be a hub for technology, music, and film in Austin, Australia, surrounded by brands. On Saturday, families attending a complimentary children’s concert navigated through the vibrant yellow CommBank Tour Zone, while queues formed at the enormous L’Oréal tent. Yet, just a short distance away in the gaming hall of the International Convention Center, the brand’s presence was noticeably subdued.
As the global gaming sector grapples with an ongoing recession, major studios remain cautiously distant from Australia due to the high cost of living. Even amidst a conference buzzing with brand synergy, indie developers took the spotlight. Large development teams were scarce; the majority of projects showcased were from solo creators or small partnerships. Reflective of the broader Australian gaming landscape, these indie developers were impressively ambitious.
A still from Mixtape, the new game developed by Melbourne’s Beethoven and Dinosaur and published by Annapurna Interactive. Photo: Beethoven and Dinosaurs/Annapurna Interactive
Australia’s two standout titles in the showcase, though still feeling somewhat subdued, gained significant attention. SXSW’s Game of the Year, Mixtape, from veteran developers Beethoven and Dinosaur (who brought us the delightful psychedelic adventure The Artful Escape in 2021) and the mid-sized American publisher Annapurna Interactive, tells a humorous ’90s coming-of-age story blending Edgar Wright-type comedy with the animation style of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Set to release later this year, the game promises a nostalgic journey through the joy of youth. Imagine Devo downhill skating on a lazy afternoon with cassette tapes playing in the background. Think of headbanging to Silverchair on a road trip or sneaking booze into parties while evading cops with erratic shopping carts. My 20-minute demo left me beaming, with at least one standout joke causing a fit of laughter.
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In contrast, the concept behind Pro Jank Footy emerges. Co-creators David Ashby and Tyler Roach, known from the series Danger 5, have cautiously ventured into gaming with support from film distributor Umbrella. This game offers a whimsical, arcade-style take on AFL reminiscent of SNES-era sports titles. After each goal, the losing team selects one of three comical power-ups (like attacking seagulls, oversized players, or resetting the score to zero) before the game resumes. During a live demonstration at Tumbalone Park, hosted by Aunty Donna’s Broden Kelly, who also features in the game, a small audience of families gathered, while a few brave souls took to the stage, risking embarrassment for the chance to win a scarf and seemed to enjoy themselves.
Aunty Donna’s Broden Kelly engaging with the audience during Pro Jank Footy’s live stage demo at SXSW Sydney. Photo: Samuel Graves/SXSW Sydney
Highlights emerged even from games featuring less ambitious concepts. One standout was the dynamic shooter Hyper Primate, where you embody a monkey, armed with various makeshift wooden guns, battling other animals in pursuit of a colossal floating banana. While the game has an intentionally rough aesthetic, the movement mechanics felt incredibly refined as you zoomed through jungle arenas.
Another impressive title was a solo project called Huedini, an exhilarating top-down game where you swiftly match colors to evade and consume enemies and obstacles. Even a brief gameplay session revealed that its seemingly simple mechanics could evolve into mind-bending complexity.
The Victorian Government’s strong backing for indie developers continues to yield benefits, with several projects funded by VicScreen, including Huedini. Other notable selections from this group included Way to the Woods, a stunning adventure game where you guide a deer and fawn endowed with light powers through a verdant city, and a captivating puzzle game, Letters to Arralla, where you decipher photo-based addresses in a serene island community populated entirely by root vegetables. South Australia also showcased a robust lineup, including Pro Junk Footy and a satisfying minimalist cube-rolling puzzle game, Toya, which felt like a serene reprieve amidst a bustling exhibition floor.
A still from Way to the Woods by Melbourne developer Onepixel.dog. Photo: Onepixel.dog
Even international participations largely embraced the grassroots ethos of the showcase. While most games, except for Sony’s Ghost of Yourei, weren’t playable, the discussions garnered good attendance. Exceptional projects from small teams included A Week in the Life of a Non-Social Giraffe, a point-and-click puzzle game centered on social anxiety from the U.S., Abyss X Zero, a 3D action game akin to Zelda from Brazil, and Crescent County, a pastel-themed broom racing simulator from a UK developer.
A recurrent critique of SXSW Sydney has been its pricing, with the least expensive one-week access pass costing over $100. This year, however, the final day’s exhibition entry was free, resulting in a vibrant crowd of families and children. Highlights included party games like Cow Chess, a project by a Sydney-based duo that bore no resemblance to cows or chess and felt like a fusion of Terry Gilliam’s Worms and Super Smash Bros., and Chained Beasts, a co-op Roman gladiator game where all players are interconnected by chains.
In truth, the plethora of indie games presented made it impossible to experience them all in a single day. While SXSW Sydney might be marked by corporate branding efforts, the indie spirit undeniably thrives, particularly in the realm of video games.
It is common to assume that individuals who are overweight derive more pleasure from food compared to those with smaller bodies, but this is not accurate. Instead, individuals tend to experience increased pleasure from their diet as they gain weight.
Researchers have now identified the reasons behind this phenomenon, as well as how restoring the pleasure response can be facilitated by adopting a healthier diet.
“Obesity is often associated with an excessive enjoyment of food. People believe they cannot resist unhealthy food options,” explained Professor Stephan Lammel, a neuroscientist at the University of California, Berkeley and the senior author of the study, in an interview with BBC Science Focus.
“However, both our research and previous studies indicate the opposite: Over time, individuals may experience a decrease in food-related pleasure.”
These findings are linked to the role of dopamine, a brain chemical associated with rewards, motivation, and pleasure. Researchers have discovered that overweight mice have lower levels of a molecule called neurotensin, which impacts dopamine responses to food.
“Contrary to popular belief, individuals with obesity may not eat for pleasure. In reality, much of their eating habits are influenced by routines and emotional cues rather than pleasure or desire,” Lammel added.
To investigate this further, researchers fed a group of mice a high-fat, unhealthy diet and observed their eating behavior. The results showed that the mice preferred the high-fat diet over regular low-calorie foods, indicating a preference for unhealthy options.
However, when presented with high-calorie treats like butter, peanut butter, and chocolate, the mice showed less interest compared to those on a normal diet. This suggests that their food choices were driven by habits rather than pleasure.
Further experiments involving stimulating brain circuits connected to dopamine yielded interesting results. While normal weight mice responded positively to the treatment, overweight mice did not, indicating an issue with dopamine and neurotensin levels.
The researchers were able to correct this by switching some mice to a normal diet, resulting in a return to normal levels of neurotensin, dopamine function, and interest in high-calorie foods. Additionally, artificially restoring neurotensin levels in other mice led to weight loss and improved food motivation, mood, and mobility.
“Our findings suggest that targeting neurotensin signaling through genetic strategies could help rebalance food motivation and promote healthier eating habits,” Lammel stated.
It is important to note that this study was conducted on mice fed high-fat diets, so the results may not directly apply to obese individuals. Nevertheless, the implications for human health are promising.
When asked about the potential impact on people, Lammel commented, “It could potentially make it easier for individuals to maintain a healthy weight without solely relying on willpower or restrictive diets.”
About our experts
Stephen Lammel: Associate Professor of Neurobiology at the Department of Neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley. Investigator at Weil Neurohub with a focus on neural circuits mediating motivation and reward. Member of the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute.
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