Mountain Animals:
Gelada Baboon
From the hard stares of the alpha males to the cute shenanigans of playful infants, Gelada Baboons are a close mountain-dwelling relative of ours. We're shining a spotlight on this Ethiopian animal.
Males weigh up to 15kg, they can grow up to over a metre from head to tail tip, and they live for up to 20 years in the wild. Geladas are actually more closely related to monkeys than baboons.
Galada Baboons live on the central Ethiopian plateau, mostly in the Simien Mountains, at elevations of between 1,800 to 4,400 metres.
Embark on a guided safari from Debark, Ethiopia, staying at nearby limalimo lodge. You may also see these baboons while on one of the multi-day treks available in the Simien Mountains National Park.
Grass is a key part of the Gelada Baboon's diet, making up 90% of what they eat, and they're the only remaining species of ancient grazing primates. In theory they're omnivores, although they only rarely eat insects. Expert foragers, they also consume a wide range of other fauna.
Although they once numbered around 440,000, the population dwindled from the 1970s as a result of agriculture and development encroachment, trapping and hunting (they spend 99% of their time on the ground). At the last count in 2008 there were believed to be around 200,000 Geladas. The UNESCO listing of the Simien Mountains has afforded at least some protection.
