Monkey business: Photographer Andrew Forsyth captured the infant Barbary macaque on his trip to GibraltarHe may be only weeks old, but this infant Barbary macaque from Gibraltar was not shy to show his cheeky side when confronted with a camera lens.
The confident youngster stuck out his tongue as if blowing a 'raspberry' at British photographer Andrew Forsyth as he approached to take pictures.
The 43-year-old wildlife photographer traveled to Gibraltar, a British overseas territory located in the Mediterranean, to capture the animals on camera.
Mother's touch: The baby was safely nestled in the arms of his mother, a dominant female in the group of Barbary macaquesForsyth said the baby was safe in the arms of his mother, a dominant female in the group of Barbary macaques.
And he appeared to have inherited some of his parent's confidence, staring directly at the camera in a show of defiance.
‘Direct eye contact is an aggressive gesture in macaque society,’ Forsyth said. ‘This infant already felt confident about putting a photographer in his place.’
Monkey see, monkey do: Infant macaques sometimes bully larger and older animals who do not dare fight back for fear of retribution from their mothers‘I took photographs for several minutes before the female decided to turn her back and shield her baby from prying eyes.’
Based on his extensive observations of the animals in the wild, Forsyth suggested that that the progeny of high-ranking females show incredible confidence.
Are you looking at me? Staring directly at someone is an aggressive gesture in macaque society suggesting confidenceHe added that it is not uncommon to see infant macaques bullying larger and older animals who do not dare fight back for fear of retribution from their relatives.
Barbary macaques have developed something of a bad reputation on Gibraltar.
The critters have been known to attack visitors and have also been blamed for ransacking the town.
source: dailymail
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