At some point, it reached a size that was appropriate to its smaller home range and then other animals began to join. When a cohort of indigenous males moved into the Pumphouse troop, the new males managed to exert enough influence to take the rest of the group in a totally unexplored direction, one that was full of the best baboon foods. Today, there are still a few differences between indigenous and translocated baboons in behavior and diet, but on the whole, it is difficult to tell that the groups had different origins. By now, all the babies, adolescents and adult males are indigenous animals. Each has learned or is learning what it means to survive here.
Droughts still happen, and when they do, babies as well as adults die.
At such times, I toy with the thought that I am responsible and should intervene, but I know that stepping in would deprive the baboons of the opportunity to adapt to severe times. Besides, my 26 years of watching these remarkable animals cope with the ups and downs of their challenging environment has taught me never to underestimate them.