Yellow baboon

Description

They can live up to 40 years. They have a very complex hierarchical structure, forming groups of more than 100 individuals. A dominant male leads and protects the group, and is also the breeder; a dominant female protects the group of females and is the male’s favourite. The rest of the group behaves somewhat anarchically, with no limitations on mating or feeding, as long as the male doesn’t oppose. The infants remain with their mothers for a year, becoming adults at 5-6 years of age. 

Behaviour

As they are sociable animals, they communicate with each other through signs and screams. They are very expressive and show their feelings openly to the rest of the group. They pick each other’s fleas or show part of their backs to bond. When they want to signal danger, they open their mouths as if “yawning” to display their fangs. 

Interesting facts

The implementation of intensive farming and livestock systems, as well as tree felling, have displaced this species from its natural habitat. They are widely used in medical research as laboratory animals and are victims of illegal trafficking of wild species.