Up close and personal
Papio Hamadryas
Baboons are the largest members of the monkey family, possessing heads with long, naked, dog-like muzzles. Some species have patches of bright red, blue or purple skin on their face, chest, or rump. Depending on the species, baboons weigh approximately 14 to 40 kg with females being about half the size of males.
Baboons are the largest members of the monkey family, possessing heads with long, naked, dog-like muzzles. Some species have patches of bright red, blue or purple skin on their face, chest, or rump. Depending on the species, baboons weigh approximately 14 to 40 kg with females being about half the size of males.
Baboons live in well-organized troops, and the individual is only secure within his own troop. Large, dominant males rule the group and are responsible for keeping order between quarrelsome members and for protecting the group from predators. Their principal enemy is the leopard, but even leopards will avoid an encounter with the larger, adult males who are courageous and vicious adversaries.
Baboons walk on all four limbs, with their tails (which in some species is a mere stump) held in a characteristic arch. http://www.nature.ca/notebooks/english/baboon.htm
On a business trip to Phoenix my
husband I stumbled upon the Phoenix zoo:
http://www.phoenixzoo.org/learn/animals/ , I was very
pleased and surprised at what a
wonderful zoo it is. It has a beautiful desert setting in the hills above the city. Many of the animals have
large enclosures where they can roam freely.
I was particularly drawn to the baboons. Their faces have so much expression. They seem
to be looking at the visitors with such thought and concentration.
The males with their silver manes look like they have just been groomed. They are much
larger than the females who seem a little shy by comparison.
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Linda Gast
www.hummingbirdmountain.com
www.mariposaspca.org
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