Guinea Baboon

## About

A male Guinea baboon

The Guinea baboon ***(Papio papio)*** is a member of the old world monkey group and is particularly distinctive for its robust upper body and orangish-red coat. Guinea baboons have incredibly large molars and incisors even in relation to other baboons. Unlike other species the Guinea baboon is not adapted to an arboreal lifestyle. Though able to climb, it lives a much more grounded lifestyle without the extra digits on its feet. With this, the Guinea baboon leads a diurnal lifestyle and lives a similar lifestyle to that of the hamadryas baboon ***(Papio hamadryas).*** The guinea baboons, similarly to hamadryas baboons, will have one adult male and sometimes a sub-adult that will protect a group of females and their young. Unlike other baboon species instead of having an aggressive approach towards predators the male Guinea baboon will much rather sneak away and take his community to safety trying to go unnoticed. When hiding from predators the baboons will sleep in trees of the night and forage during the day. Whilst foraging Guinea baboons break off into smaller foraging groups in order to collect food faster. When the groups split up they are not able to see each other and rather communicate through specific calls. Often, Guinea baboons are found licking cave walls in order to gain the salt and mineral benefits from them. Guinea baboons are known for digging for roots and eating fruit means that are both great seed disperses and are useful for soil aeration. The species' length has not been quantified however, it can reach a weight of 13-26kg (28.6-57lbs), making it one of the smallest baboon species.

## Diet

Guinea baboons are essentially omnivorous meaning that they are both herbivorous and carnivorous. The species will often eat a variety of plant matter like roots, tubers and bulbs from the ground, even occasionally eating small patches of grass. As said before and described by Animalia.bio, Guinea baboons eat many various species of fruits and berries making them great seed distributors through the regions in which they occupy. When given the chance Guinea baboons will also eat meats like insects, worms, spiders, small mammals, birds and invertebrates.

## Conservation status

The Guinea baboon is currently listed as near-threatened by the IUCN. Over the years the Guinea baboon population has often been engulfed by the growing number of humans living in the regions that the species once widely occupied. Threats like agricultural expansion have lead to outcomes like habitat loss, which greatly affects their range across their habitats. Recently in the past large numbers of Guinea baboons were exported for laboratory use, particularly from Senegal. The demand for a water source between Guinea baboon and humans is a growing issue that is currently occurring around Mauritania, somewhere where the Guinea baboon is very prominent. Past droughts have resulted in rock pools drying out, which has caused local extinction of other fauna. Many-a-time this drought-age that is becoming annual in Mauritania has become a growing threat for the Guinea baboon population and conservation efforts in the future. Since the 1970's habitat degradation has been another major issue particularly in Guinea-Bissau. Around the Guinea-Bissau area as well the baboons have often been hunted for other sources like bush meat consumption and illegal trade around the continent. The baboons skin is also used widely for medicinal purposes as well, this can often spark things like illegal trade and negative uses for the animal's body. Around Africa whole meat carcasses and general sources of Guinea baboon meat is sold at certain stalls, markets and many other places. The availability for this certain type of meat is far too high and is affecting the population greatly. A fully grown male baboon dead or alive, for bush meat or for illegal trade is sold at around a 60% higher price than any other primate, demonstrating the demand for Guinea baboon products. The rock pools that are annually dried out are not protected, though they are seen as just diversity hot spots. Though many ignore the law, Guinea baboons are in fact protect by the government of Guinea-Bissau. The biggest current actions being taken is the protection of range in Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal, which is a great hotspot for the Guinea Baboons conservation.

## Range and Population

Guinea baboons are primarily abundant in northern Guinea, as their name suggests, but spread throughout the coast of west Africa and through southern Mauritania and western Mali, as well as having a large stronghold of individuals who in which are well populated throughout Senegal. The Guinea baboons reach as far south west as Sierra Leone. Their range tends to shift semi-frequently possibly due to the extensive decrease in rainfall. Across Mali, the Guinea baboon population has begun to decrease drastically mainly as an outcome of extensive habitat loss in the areas in which they inhabit. Guinea baboons in Guinea and Guinea-Bissau have had thorough struggles with hunting which has unfortunately caused the population to be pushed to hills and cliff tops of the country, as they are repetitively pushed out of their habitats and ecosystems via human encroachment. In Mali it is also thought that Guinea baboons have been known to have been hybridised with the larger olive baboon ***(Papio anubis)***. These individuals have been witnessed in the southern subpopulations of Guinea baboon in Mali. In Mauritania the growing issue of hunting has consistently pushed the population back to unfavourable habitats further south, where there is little resource to support the baboons lifestyle. Guinea baboons are often found locally in The Gambia parks and protected areas where the baboons do not have large conflict issues.

## Behaviour

The Guinea baboon is often known to be a very communicative animal that often uses a variety of different vocalisations and physical gestures that are often used to warn others about predators and to communicate in various other ways. According to Animalia.bio Guinea baboons are generally terrestrial animals that you will often find live on highland cliff edges and hills. Even though they are known to be terrestrial rather than arboreal, they are still seen as accomplished climbers just like other baboon species. The baboons sleep in trees with separate groups on each branch. When foraging during the day, baboons will split into sub-groups, where they will not physically see each other but rather communicate through specific calls. The species lives in communities of One Male Units (OMU), meaning that they will have only one dominant mature male along with other sub-adult/adolescent males as well as females and their young. When predatory interactions occur, rather than showing aggression the dominant male rather calmly lead the group away from danger, trotting, corralling, shaking and jumping in an effort to flee.

### Relationship with Humans

Guinea baboons are protected by humans within national parks and other regions especially in Senegal where the baboons are thoroughly protected and preserved. often wildlife-human interactions are not too friendly and often result in conflict. This sort of conflict has led baboons to change the sort of ecosystems they live, such as occupying more unfavoured habitats more frequently.

## In Captivity

According to ZOOINSTITUTES guinea baboons are primarily found in zoos across Europe in places like the Edinburgh Zoo, UK, Perm Zoo, Russia, Tiergarten Zoo, Germany and Zoo de la Besancon Citadelle, France.

## Sources

* Guinea baboon - ZOOINSTITUES | https://zooinstitutes.com/animals/guinea-baboon-zoo-de-la-besancon-citadelle-16991.html
* Guinea baboon - IUCN | https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/16018/190269269
* Guinea baboon - Animalia.bio | https://animalia.bio/guinea-baboon
* Guinea Baboon - Wikipedia | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea\_baboon