MONKEYS IN MARRAKESH: TAKE ACTION
Born Free is fighting to bring the exploitation of captive wild animals in Marrakesh to an end.
The Jemaa El Fna square in Marrakesh, Morocco, hosts a world-famous market selling local produce and crafts. But it is also a site of animal exploitation and cruelty. Having received so many reports from visitors about the animal suffering in the square, Born Free has visited Marrakesh several times over the years to investigate and gather evidence – and what we have uncovered is truly shocking.
Our latest visit in 2025 showed that the situation sadly hasn’t changed. Many Barbary macaque monkeys are being exploited for money as props for tourist photographs. These animals have chains around their necks and are dragged from visitor to visitor. Many are dressed up in clothes or nappies, and are exposed to crowds of people and loud noises with nowhere to hide. They are manhandled, sometimes hit, and crammed into dark travelling crates.
Macaque monkey photo prop, Morocco © Aaron Gekoski for Born Free
With numbers in the wild falling to as few as 10-15,000, Barbary macaques were classified as Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and in 2016, they were granted the greatest possible protection against international commercial trade. While this, alongside national efforts, have led to a welcome reduction in the trade in macaques as pets, their use in the appalling photo prop industry continues.
The macaques are not alone in their suffering: snakes, eagles and pigeons are also used as tawdry tourist photo props in Marrakesh.
Despite increased awareness of the plight of Barbary macaques in recent years, and ongoing efforts to protect them, the exploitation taking place at Jemaa el- Fna has been allowed to continue, seemingly because some people think it is ‘traditional’. We don’t believe tradition should ever be an excuse for animal suffering. There is now far greater understanding of the welfare requirements of wild animals, and we feel strongly that the kind of exploitation taking place in Marrakesh belongs in the past.
Born Free has been calling on the Moroccan environmental and tourism authorities, along with the Mayor of Marrakesh, to bring these outdated activities to an end. We’ve also reached out to the Moroccan Ambassador to the UK, the British Ambassador in Morocco, and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Morocco. However, to date we have had little indication. That officials are willing to address this blatant animal cruelty.
Please show your support for an end to the abuse of animals in the Jemaa el-Fna square by sending an email to the mayor of Marrakesh, urging her to put an end to these activities. Let’s end Morocco’s shameful mistreatment of macaques and other animals.