Anubis baboon (Papio anubis) - Community gives strength

Taxonomically baboons are long-tailed monkeys. In German this group is also called "dog monkeys". This kind of confusing name is due to the fact that, unlike Gibbons and Great apes, baboons and their relatives have long tails and dog-like snouts. Adult males are up to 80 cm long and reach weights up to 25 kg. There's a significant sexual dimorphism - females are much smaller than males.

Anubis baboons, also known as Olive baboons, inhabit several areas in Africa south of the Sahara. They prefer grasslands but also can be found in habitats with sparse forests and bushes. The diet of Anubis baboons includes a wide variety of food. Most of all they are vegetarians that feed on grass, herbs, seeds, fruits, roots, leaves and nuts. But they also take animal supplementary diet like invertebrates and young birds. Some baboon groups even hunt on small mammals up to the size of gazelles.

Anubis baboons are very social animals living in large groups. Baboon groups consist of animals of both genders and all ages. During the day baboons wander about in search of food. At the end of the day they've done about 20 km or more sometimes. Anubis baboons spend the night in trees or on rocks, where they are more safe from their predators than on the ground. Among the baboons' most dangerous predators are Leopards, African hunting dogs and Lions. Also snakes and raptors hunt on small baboons. But baboons are not defenceless. Adult males form "combat groups" which are able to defend their group even against Leopards. Confronting themselves with the attacker the large males create opportunities for the females and young baboons to retire.

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