Monkeys being smuggled out

Less than 5,000 macaca monkeys remain Casablanca - Sayed Bounawar The macaca sylvanus monkey, native to Morocco, numbered over 13,000 in the 1980’s, today there are less than 5,000 and they brave the risk of torture and smuggling out of Morocco. Known in Morocco as Zaatoot, the macaca is a rare and unique species and the only one in the world that lives in the Rif Mountains of Morocco. Other than humans, the Zaatoot is the only free-living primate in Europe. With psychological make-up similar to humans, the Zaatoot tends to live in collective families and when depressed it prefers to stay away from the group. As is the ‘norm’ with dwindling species, man and his endeavours, both direct and indirect is causing the gradual extinction of the Zaatoot. Up to 300 young Zaatoot monkeys are hunted per year to be sold or smuggled illegally. People use the monkeys in witchcraft and sorcery, as many think the brains bring luck, aid intimacy, and bring workplace success. Others chain the Zaatoot, and keep them as pets. According to a study carried out by the Regional Centre for Documentation, Activation and Production in Morocco, "We can never make up for the monkeys lost, each small one snatched from the group suffers physically and psychologically throughout its life leading the monkey to hurt itself till death."