Endangered monkeys, including Barbary Macaques dressed in football jerseys like England’s Jude Bellingham, are being exploited for tourist photos, according to activists. These monkeys are seen in Jemaa el-Fna market square in Marrakesh’s busy Medina quarter, where they are paraded around by handlers with chains around their necks.
The upcoming 2030 World Cup, to be hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, has brought these exploited monkeys into the limelight as they are dressed in football shirts to attract tourists for selfies in exchange for money. The monkeys are adorned in various jerseys, such as England’s Jude Bellingham, Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior, and Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski.
When not being used for photo ops, the monkeys are confined in small crates, forced to wear nappies and sunglasses. Concerned tourists, including Natasha Doyle from south west London, have reported these distressing sightings to Born Free through its Raise the Red Flag program.
Natasha, a registered veterinary nurse, expressed her dismay at the treatment of the monkeys, stating that witnessing their distress ruined her holiday experience. She vowed not to return to Morocco until the exploitation of these animals ceases. The Barbary macaques, native to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and Algeria, are endangered in the wild and are given protection under international conservation agreements.
Despite their protected status, these monkeys are compelled to perform daily in Marrakesh’s historic square, often resulting in distressing encounters with tourists. Incidents of tourists being injured by stressed monkeys have been reported, including a recent case where a woman was bitten and required medical attention.
Born Free’s Captivity Campaigns Information Coordinator, Sarah Jefferson, highlighted concerns over the exploitation of these monkeys as the FIFA World Cup approaches. Born Free continues to engage with Moroccan authorities and the Mayor of Marrakesh to address the negative impact on animal welfare and tourism associated with the exploitation of Barbary macaques in Marrakesh.
As the excitement for the 2026 FIFA World Cup grows, Born Free calls for an end to the use of Barbary macaques dressed in football attire for tourist photos. Both FIFA and the Mayor of Marrakesh have yet to respond to requests for comments on the matter.
Travelers are urged to raise awareness about the treatment of captive wild animals while on holiday through Born Free’s Raise the Red Flag initiative.