How often have you heard something negative about baboons? Often mistaken as the nuisances of the bush, we can’t believe the bad reputation these incredible creatures have been given through the spread of false information! We thought we’d take the opportunity to educate the public and our guests on why baboons should be celebrated instead of shunned…
They’re closer to humans than you might think – That’s right. They’re one of our closest evolutionary relatives with a genetic similarity of 94%!
They’re the most widespread species of monkey in all of Africa and are highly social – Just like many of the other primate species, baboons live in social groups of around anywhere from 20 to 150 animals. This includes several adult males and females and loads of offspring.
They stick together with their group from birth until death – Baboons live their whole lives in close and continuous proximity to their group. This includes family, mates and even opponents. This is especially true for females who never leave their group, whilst males may drift between groups as their lives progress.
Their behaviour differentiates them from other monkeys – One differentiating factor is that instead of living in trees, they spend the majority of their waking hours on the ground.
Baboons can thrive in a number of habitats – These highly adaptable creatures can live almost anywhere and can live on an array of food sources like roots, seeds, fruits, leaves, insects, and eggs.
They’re also skilled hunters – Believe it or not, they can even hunt and successfully kill rabbits, small monkeys or baby buck.
Female baboons give birth to a single young – The gestation period for baboons is around 178 days (just under six months). Much like humans and other species of primates, baboons tend to give birth at night.
Young baboons are much like human babies – For the first two years of life, young baboons are dependent on their mothers. Once they reach the age of two, they become a juvenile baboon and begin to explore their world a bit more, playing with other baboons and returning to sleep near their mother at night.
Experience baboons in their natural habitat At Zambezi Grande, our thriving ecosystem plays home to a number of incredible animals, like the baboon. To get a closer look at these fascinating creatures alongside many other safari greats, why not get a head start on planning your Zambezi Grande escape? For more on our lodge and the activities that promise a lifetime of memories, please contact our reservations team here: reservations@zambezigrande.com or feel free to read more about our latest specials. https://www.zambezigrande.com/packages-and-specials/
