American Pie actor Jason Biggs attacked by Gibraltar ape
Friday, August 28, 2009 @ 2:58 PM
The American Pie actor Jason Biggs has cut short his holiday in Europe after being attacked by one of Gibraltar's famous monkeys.
In a scene that could have come from the comedy films that have made him famous, the 31-year-old star fought off the wild animal when he was attacked while sightseeing on the British colony.
He was visiting the disputed territory at the foot of Spain with friend and American Pie co-star Eddie Kaye Thomas when the pair came face to face with one of Gibraltar's mascots.
"Jason and Eddie decided to go on the trip to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of Pie," a source told US media.
"They were hiking in the woods when this monkey suddenly leapt on Jason from a tree and tried to bite his face off.
"Jason's travelling companions managed to fend the beast off and Jason thankfully wasn't seriously hurt, just shaken up."
The actor abruptly ended his holiday as a result of the attack and returned to the US early.
The Gibraltar population of the Barbary macaque - a monkey commonly referred to as the Barbary ape because of its stubby tail - numbers more than 200.
They attract hundreds of tourists every day to the areas around Apes Den and the Siege Tunnels at the top of the Rock.
But signs warn of the dangers of approaching the animals and the threat of attacks on humans and the possibility of the spread of disease has led to authorities ordering regular culls.
British soldiers are thought to have introduced the apes, natives of north Africa, into Gibraltar in the mid-18th century to use for shooting practice.
Local folklore has it that the colony would cease to be British if the monkeys were to leave.
Winston Churchill took it seriously enough to ship extra monkeys from north Africa to Gibraltar during the Second World War.
Source: The Telegraph