Do you believe in Darwin’s theory of evolution? Whether you do or not is not being questioned in this post. The point, on yet another Friday in lockdown, is to celebrate the humble baboon. They target of so much ridicule and the sworn enemy of many a maize farmer who sees them as vermin.
FYI: What it must be like to ride around like this with an upside-down view of the world. Or given the current circumstances that we humans find ourselves in, perhaps this young baboon DOES have the correct outlook?
Peek-a boo. Young baboons are curious and will often test the patience of their mothers as they explore and interact with other members of their troop.
Did you know? Baboons utilize social skills to survive within their troop. For instance, a lower-ranked male will often baby-sit for higher-ranking females to garner favour and to increase his status within the group.
Often these animals will seem to sit and meditate while staring off into the distance. The slight tilt of their head gives them an educated look.
Mr and Mrs sitting near a waterhole while the youngsters and the rest of the troop foraged for food.
Baboons are omnivores and as such will eat a multitude of food that will often include grasses, fruits, seeds, roots, bark, rodents, birds and even the young of certain antelope species.
“This is MY waterhole and I dare anyone to challenge me”!
FYI: Baboons are able to communicate with each other by using a vocabulary of about 30 vocalisations. These consist of variations of grunts, barks and screams. Aside from these, they have, like humans, many non-vocal gestures, like yawning, lip-smacking and shoulder shrugs.
Is there a difference between monkeys and baboons? Yes, there is. Unlike a monkey, the tail of a baboon is not prehensile. Baboons have a dog-like face and walk on all fours with a level back.
This youngster, dwarfed by the legs of the impala in the background, had taken a tumble into a waterhole. He sat, wet and miserable for a while before emitting a series of blood-curdling screams that were enough to mobilize the entire troop to his aid.
With canine teeth that are longer than those of a leopard, adult male baboons can make for worthy adversaries. Aside from being bared in threat displays to rivals within the troop, they can also be used as lethal weapons, for both attack and self-defence.
Leopards are one of the chief predators of baboons. That being said, there have been instances when leopards have been chased away by an angry alpha male.
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