Baboons are among some of the largest monkeys in the world. There are five species of baboons. They live in Africa and Arabia. Sadly baboons are sometimes seen as vermin by farmers. There are however organisations whose goal it is to protect baboons and watch over their interests.
Baboons Vary in Size and Communicate in a Sophisticated Way
Depending on the species, baboons weigh between 33 and 82 pounds. They are powerful and have large teeth. They move around in troops of about 30 or more. The National Geographic reports that baboons use over 30 "vocalizations ranging from grunts to barks to screams" and also make use of non-vocal gestures such as yawns, lip smacking and shoulder shrugging.
The Diet of Baboons is Varied and Includes Meat
Baboons eat roots, seeds, grains and fruit. They also eat meat and (according to the National Geographic) even the "young of larger mammals, such as antelope and sheep". They can often be seen sitting on their hindquarters, foraging in farm lands, while one of the troop keeps watch.
Baboons are Brave and Strong and Sometimes Attack Humans
They are strong primates. According to the African Wildlife Foundation, when threatened by their natural predators, such as leopards or cheetah, baboons are prepared to confront the predators by forming a line and then screaming and baring their large teeth.
Unfortunately this aggressive behavior sometimes is directed towards people, it would seem when there is a possibility of finding food. On 20 August 2004, The Cape Argus newspaper in Cape Town, South Africa, reported an attack by a baboon at Cape Point. According to the report a woman with her seven month old baby together with a Swiss visitor were at Cape Point with their car. The baboon tried to get a bag in the car and ended up attacking the two adults. The mother was bitten on the arm but not seriously.
Baboons Sometimes Protect People and Animals
According to Dawn W Smith, the author of a Suite101 Article on baboons, the people of Botswana in Southern Africa, when sleeping outside at night in the bush, choose to sleep near roosting baboons. This is because the baboons are excellent "watch dogs"and will make a warning noise if a dangerous animal approaches, such as a lion. Impala also use baboons as "watch dogs"(Dawn W Smith).
Support for Baboons Now and in the Future
There are organisations that have been established to put forward solutions for managing baboons. One such organisation is "Baboon Matters". The organisation's website aims at encouraging awareness about baboons. The hope is that through a better understanding, people and baboons will find ways to live together in harmony.
Sources
- African Wildlife Foundation: awf.org/content/wildlife/detail/baboon
- The Cape Argus, Cape Town, August 2004
- Baboon Matters: baboonmatters.org.za/index.html
- National Geographic: animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/baboon.html
- National Geographic:news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/10/061004-baboons_2.html
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