Mammal · GBIF taxon 5707341
Olive Baboon
Papio anubisAlso known as Anubis Baboon
Olive baboons live in large, complex troops of up to 150 individuals governed by dynamic dominance hierarchies and strong female bonds. During the day, troops forage across open terrain using over two dozen distinct vocalizations, facial expressions, and tail postures to coordinate movement and signal threats. Their remarkable adaptability allows them to thrive in diverse African ecosystems, from dense riverine forests to high Saharan mountain ranges.
SocialDiurnalTerrestrial
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Grasses and tubers
- Wild fruits and seeds
- Insects and small vertebrates
Predators
- Leopard
- Lion
- Spotted Hyena
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, agricultural conflict, hunting
HabitatsSavannahs, open woodlands, steppes, montane forests
Life span20–30 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPrimates
- FamilyCercopithecidae
- GenusPapio
- SpeciesPapio anubis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Maintain a safe distance and never feed them, as habituated baboons can inflict severe bites.
- Why it is dangerous
- Powerful jaw muscles and long, razor-sharp canine teeth enable large males to inflict deep puncture wounds and tears when threatened or guarding food.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a heavy build, greenish-grey coat, dark hairless face, and an elongated dog-like muzzle.
- What to do
- Maintain at least 20 meters distance, never make direct eye contact or show teeth, and retreat slowly if a troop approaches.
Responsible observation
- Observe from vehicles: Stay inside vehicles or behind barriers when viewing troops along roadsides or in national parks.
- Secure food: Store all food, trash, and bright containers out of sight to prevent baboons from approaching.
- Avoid direct eye contact: Avoid staring directly at large males, which they interpret as a challenge or threat.
Apex Predator (c) Raja bandi, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Raja bandi · cc-by
Frequent Companion "Vervet Monkey, Uganda" by Rod Waddington is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Paco Cardenas, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Manuel González Olaechea y Franco / CC BY 3.0 · cc-by
Close Relative (c) datadan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by datadan · cc-by
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