In Gibraltar - a British colony that shares a border with Spain - the only wild apes found in Europe make their home. The monkeys, also known as macaques, are famous for living relatively peacefully with residents - until recently that is.

Recently one pack of monkeys have been causing a ruckus and demonstrating out-of-control behavior, and now members of the 25-member clan are being killed in an attempt to curb the problem. According to Ernest Britto, Gibraltar's tourist minister, two of the monkeys have received lethal injections but the rest of the pack will be soon to follow.

"The decision was not taken lightly," he said. "It is a last resort."

"Children are frightened, people cannot leave their windows open for fear of the monkeys stealing, apes can bite and contact with them runs the risk of salmonella or hepatitis," said Britto.

A birth control plan was initiated by the city to assist with population control of the monkeys for about six years, but the results are not immediate and take some time. Once the pack of 25 macaques meet their maker, the colony will have a remaining population of approximately 200 of the creatures. The massacre plan will also take some time, as the monkeys must first be captured and sedated before being exterminated.

The International Primate Protection League is pretty choked by the killings, and may ask tourists to boycott Gibraltar is the local government continues with their cull. The monkeys are a big tourist attraction for the area, and help boost the local economy.

» Yahoo News