Olive Baboons in Nyungwe – Olive baboons have spread rapidly across many African countries, occupying mountainous forests, savannahs, and even the Sahara.
These fascinating species got their name from the color of their coat and are known to be sexually dimorphic, with males being larger than females.
Their teeth also differ in size between sexes. Among the monkey family, olive baboons are considered one of the largest species, living in groups of about 15 to 150 individuals, comprising many females, infants, and fewer males.
In the baboon world, there is a social hierarchy based on dominance. Males are ranked, and infants inherit their rank based on their mother’s position.
Grey-cheeked mangabeys have a notable social structure similar to the olive baboons, making this link relevant to their social hierarchy.
When the group becomes too large or crowded, it splits to reduce competition for resources, food, and shelter.
When choosing a direction to move, these wise creatures “vote,” usually following the majority, even if the dominant male is not among them.
When warning others, they use vocal alarms that indicate the type of predator approaching. Snakes are among the predators that baboons might warn others about. They also use facial expressions to quietly inform others to hide from impending danger, much like behaviors observed during Chimpanzee Trekking when chimpanzees communicate to protect their group.
Once a male baboon matures, he leaves his group to find another, where he finds mates and starts a family of his own, often fighting for dominance, as the strongest male gets access to food and shelter first.
Olive baboons are captivating to watch as they train their young ones, much like humans.
Females approaching maturity often act as allomothers to the infants, learning how to rear them by caring for the young.
Infants cling tightly to their mother’s bellies until they are ready to move on their own, and the fathers stay nearby to protect the young from predators.
On the other hand, olive baboons can be troublesome.
The Community Tours page may discuss interactions between local communities and wildlife, including issues with baboons.
They are notorious for conflicting with local communities by stealing cooked food, destroying crops, and even entering houses.
Some people kill them out of anger, while others spare them, recognizing the importance and value of these wildlife species.
Walk the talk in Nyungwe as you gaze at the olive baboons.
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