The olive baboon in Uganda, the most commonly found baboon species is the Olive Baboon (Papio anubis), which is widespread throughout the country, inhabiting various habitats like savannas, forest edges, and even near human settlements; they are often seen on the fringes of national parks and along roadsides, sometimes considered a pest due to their tendency to raid crops.
Olive baboons in Uganda typically found in savanna, woodland, and forest edge habitats live in multi male multi female troops of 15-200 members. Days begin with the adults sunbathing while youngsters play and socialize. From that point on, groups descend from their sleeping sites to begin foraging. They use an array of calls and barks to keep track of one another as they traverse the ground. Foraging continues until sundown when troops then clamber back to their sleeping quarters and spend time socializing and grooming before bed. Grooming is a critical social component for olive baboons; it cultivates bonds, nurtures existing relationships, promotes health, and can even act as a calming ritual between individuals.
Olive baboons are omnivores—insects, scorpions, spiders, birds, and eggs are also an important part of their cuisine. However, this is only a short list of the animals they eat. Olive baboons are both scavengers and hunters. Both males and females utilize “simple” and “complex” hunting strategies to bring down prey such as small birds, rabbits, foxes, rodents, lizards, other primates, impalas, dik-diks, and gazelles.
Baboons protect themselves with their natural defenses, most notably their large fangs and strength. While humans and chimpanzees do not have large canine teeth, baboons have very long fangs that help them to not just catch and eat prey, but defend themselves from predators or from social rivals.
When it comes to sleep, one may wager that baboons opt for protection over comfort. At night, they prefer to rest upon barren rocky cliffs with steep slopes to avoid predation. For a baboon, the less vegetation, the better. Bare, rocky walls are difficult for predators with paws and claws to scale, allowing them to have a safe night’s rest. If a cozy cliff isn’t available, troops will congregate in trees with wide tree trunks. Males stay closest to the base of the trunk to protect the females and young who sleep farther away.
Female rank is inherited from mother to daughter, as they almost always remain with their natal family groups, and dominance helps dictate food and reproductive accessibility. Within a troop, matrilineal lines have their own hierarchy. Females maintain and strengthen their social bonds through grooming and remaining within proximity of their family members during resting periods.
Males fight over females, food, resting stops and sometimes for no apparent reason. The most serious altercations are usually between baboons of close rank; but baboons low on the totem pole get bullied all the time by higher-ups looking for an ego boost. Now it appears that one troop has found a better way.
Males leave their natal groups upon maturation between the ages of 6-9 years old. Throughout their lifetime, they join and depart from a troop every few years, which helps to prevent breeding with their offspring. When approaching a new group, they tend to be curious and friendly, trying to connect with females first, as well as other vagabond males without rank. Once comfortable, they then try to challenge more dominant males which can be highly competitive and aggressive. Fighting can occur daily, although this is not a permanent behavior. Males also conduct ritualized greetings in neutral situations and can amicably acknowledge ranks when there isn’t resource competition. After they surpass their prime, males enjoy their golden years in a more relaxed manner and form coalitions with one another, often to protect females in estrous from rambunctious young males.
The females of most monkey species stay with their mothers for their entire lives, and when the mothers reach old age; their daughters take care of them. Most infant macaques and baboons depend on their mother’s care for an extended period of time, generally breastfeeding for at least a year.
Just like predators, monkeys are hard-wired to be afraid of snakes like the cobra pythons and other species. This is natural as they often share habitats with snakes and their toxic bites often claim the lives of adult and juvenile monkeys.
Olive baboons are sexually dimorphic; males have a size advantage nearly double that of females. Average male height is roughly 2.3 feet, with females coming in around about 2 feet tall. The average wild male weighs 24 kg, females 14.7 kg. However, weight can fluctuate based on habitat and diet. Populations that have crop-heavy diets are slightly heavier, perhaps due to the carbohydrates and garbage (literally garbage!) they consume; males average 27.4 kg and females 15.6 kg. Captive olive baboons are the largest, with males weighing roughly 28.9 kg and females 17 kg
If an olive baboon yawns, stares, raises their eyebrows, exhibits a penile display, or grinds their teeth, it is a warning not to be taken lightly. Yawning, staring, and hitting the ground are forms of aggression. Head bobbing, the stiffening of arms, and slapping are also responses to threats.
Sexual maturity occurs between the ages of 4-6, but fully grown adulthood is not reached until 7-10 years. When in estrus, a female’s genital regions swells and turns bright pink to indicate to males she is ready to mate. Some studies show the more inflated a backside, the more appealing she is to a male. However, this is a sensitive period for females, as it can be uncomfortable and easier for the skin to tear, making her susceptible to bacteria and infection. Males tend to prefer breeding with seasoned mothers for reproductive success. A high-ranking female may give birth more frequently than low-ranking females.
Once impregnated, gestation lasts for 180-185 days. Babies are born helpless and depend on their mothers to rear them in the beginning. Like humans, sleeping and feeding is practically all they do. One of the first things an infant learns is how to grasp, a key skill that allows them to cling to their mothers and remain close as they travel and feed. As the weeks wear on, youngsters ride on their mother’s backs. They become more independent and curious, often lolling away from mom. They do not venture far for the first few months, and mothers are always quick to scoop them back if they feel like they are separated for too long. Their protective maternal instincts are very strong. Other females in the group will also help care for infants.
Babies are weaned after 10-12 months. At this point, activity and play become increasingly important and both males and females act as caretakers. Males may babysit to allow females to forage, participate in grooming, and offer protection while demonstrating group interactions that the youngsters will carry into their adulthoods. This is especially important for other young males to observe before they leave their troop and find their own one day.
In the wild, individuals can live for 25-30 years; however, due to disease and injuries, few reach their full lifespan. In captivity, the oldest individual lived to 48 years old.
