Species profile
About the olive baboon
Olive baboons live in the largest and most complex societies of any Tanzanian primate. Troops of a hundred or more move as a coordinated body, with a dominance order among males, matrilines among females, and alliances that shift constantly. Watching a troop cross a road is a lesson in primate politics.
Lake Manyara National Park is famous for exceptionally large troops in its groundwater forest, and olive baboons are also common in Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Arusha. They are intelligent and opportunistic, which is why every lodge in the north asks guests to keep tent zips closed and food out of sight.
Life in the wild
Behavior & relationships
Behavior
Strictly diurnal. Forages on the ground for most of the day and climbs to cliff ledges or tall trees to sleep. Males give a loud "wahoo" bark in alarm and display.
Social life
Multi-male, multi-female troops of twenty to over a hundred. Females stay in their birth troop for life and inherit rank; males transfer between troops and build alliances to gain status.
What makes it remarkable
Special features
A dog-like muzzle, a shoulder mane on adult males and canines longer than a leopard’s — one of few primates that will fight off a predator.
