Olive Baboon

Throughout central sub-Saharan Africa and isolated populations occur within Sahara.

Savanna, grassland steppe, tropical rainforest, and agricultural and human settlement areas from floors of steep valleys to altitudes of 2300 m (7500 ft).

Highly social with complex multi-male, multi-female social structure. Troop size can range from 40-100 animals. Troop members travel, forage, and sleep together with 60% of time spent moving and foraging. In the morning, the troop socializes while youngsters play. The troop spends the day moving and foraging; older juveniles lead, followed by females and young juveniles, older males, mothers and infants, and young males bringing up the rear. During the heat of the day they rest, then move on to forage more. At the end of the day, they return to sleeping site and engage in social activities before sleeping. Movements of troop may be limited by availability of appropriate sleeping location.

Lifespan is 25-30 years in the wild and up to 40 years under human care.

Greenish-gray coat; individual hairs are green-grey with rings of black and yellowish-brown giving the coat a multicolor appearance.

Known predators include cats (lions, leopards, servals), African wild dogs, hyenas, crocodiles, chimpanzees and domestic dogs. Infants are vulnerable to raptors such as eagles.

Baboons likely play a role in aerating the soil through the digging of roots and tubers. They are also seed dispersers by passing them through scat or attachment to fur.