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Happy Family (6)
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![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 351 W: 44 N: 607]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif) (2408) | This is a family (or at least intimate friends!) of Hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) photographed at Paignton Zoo, south Devon. The zoo has a delightful feature to house these animals called 'Baboon rock' which is a huge manmade structure built to replicate a rocky mountainside with caves and ledges for the baboons to explore. There are approximately 50 baboons in the Zoo.
Other facts about the baboon, courtesy of the Paignton zoo website:
Habitat:
Dry, rocky areas and thorn bushes.
Wild Diet:
Roots, grass seed, bulbs, occasionally small mammals.
Behaviour:
A troop of baboons may number over 200 individuals and is organised into bands, clans and families. Each family unit has an adult male leader and anything from 1 to 10 females with young.
Breeding:
One youngster (but sometimes two) is born after a gestation of 26 weeks (6 months).
Interesting Fact:
Hamadryas baboons were held as sacred by the ancient Egyptians and pictured on temples and tombs. They were also mummified and entombed.
Conservation:
Protection in the Simien Mountains National Park (Ethiopia). They breed very successfully in zoos.
Photo conditions: Dry, sunny, late afternoon. Handheld. |
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