Mom checks us out. Given the ‘look,’ I don’t think I would mess with the baby. We were at a water hole in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe when we came on this mother and her baby.
In the animal kingdom, baboons are close relatives of ours, sharing 94% of our DNA. While others are closer (chimpanzees at 99% for example), 94% is close enough to feel a sense of identity, or at least imagine one. This mom’s interactions with her baby were about as ‘human’ as they get.
Assuming we were harmless, junior trotted out for a closer look…And received a lecture from Mom for his boldness. At least that’s the way it looks!Like us, baboons are omnivorous. This one has found a tasty stick to chew on….While carrying on a conversation with another baboon. He may be talking, in a way. Baboons have 10 or more vocalizations they use to communicate.His communication with us seemed clear.The baboons here were harvesting the fruit in this tree. Our guide told us they chewed off the outer rind, which was spicy, and ate the sweeter fruit in the middle. Impalas, apparently liking spicy, waited under the tree to gulp down the rinds.Here’s a closer look.An impala feasting on the rinds is at the base of the tree. Several more baboons can be seen on the ground. Groups of baboons are called troops.I’ve already featured baboons sifting through elephant dung to find ‘tasty’ tidbits. Two of them were hard at work with the chore.We saw lots of baboons going about their business in Chobe National Park. This little fellow seemed to be in a hurry. Maybe mom was calling.A distant photo caught a mother carrying its baby that was hanging on underneath. We saw another baby riding on its mother’s back like a cowboy rides a horse.Mom and a teenage baboon make their way through the grounds of the Safari Lodge where we stayed next to the Chobe River.This handsome dude seemed to be focused on something other than food. (Warning: Now’s the time for the R-rated part of this post.)And found her. Females have patches on their rear that turn bright red when they are ready to mate. If males are a little slow on the uptake, the females ‘flirt’ by backing up to them. No flirting was required here. That’s it for today. And no more R-rated posts until we get to the mongoose. Monday’s post will feature a number of birds we saw on the safari that I haven’t covered yet: They range from sublime to ugly.
It’s amazing how closely we’re related to apes and monkeys. I’ve only seen them in zoos, which utterly breaks my heart. They’re so human. I love the photos and hearing your thoughts. Beautiful animals.
I liked the same photos that the others liked: baby getting scolded, and baby clinging beneath mom as she ran. I also liked learning how impalas wait for the fruit rinds to come raining down on them like manna from heaven, ha ha. These are great photos, Curt. Thank you. I feel like I get such an education when you post.
My favorite was the baby getting scolded. Especially the look on the baby’s face! I might have been down there with the impalas. I like hot food. I wonder how the baboons and impala;as would have related to my presence. Thanks, on the education comment. I always try to do research on most of the birds and animals I feature. I’m getting educated right along with you!
I try to mine in advance. But it doesn’t always work that way. Grin. Kind of like getting homework done ahead of time.
Great photos of these near rellies. The post reminded me of the macaques in India – you never knew when one would swoop at you. We learned never to carry food around.
Alison
Wandering through Time and Place 
Love the photo of the young’un getting that maternal glare!
His look was precious. A definition of dejection.
Great that you had peaceful encounters with baboons.
I’ve heard they can be aggressive, Peggy. They were busy doing baboon things.
It’s amazing how closely we’re related to apes and monkeys. I’ve only seen them in zoos, which utterly breaks my heart. They’re so human. I love the photos and hearing your thoughts. Beautiful animals.
This was a great post, Curt! I love how the mother carried the baby hanging from underneath. More amazing animals!
And that’s a standard carrying position, Lauren. The little fellow must be hanging on for life…
I liked the same photos that the others liked: baby getting scolded, and baby clinging beneath mom as she ran. I also liked learning how impalas wait for the fruit rinds to come raining down on them like manna from heaven, ha ha. These are great photos, Curt. Thank you. I feel like I get such an education when you post.
My favorite was the baby getting scolded. Especially the look on the baby’s face! I might have been down there with the impalas. I like hot food. I wonder how the baboons and impala;as would have related to my presence. Thanks, on the education comment. I always try to do research on most of the birds and animals I feature. I’m getting educated right along with you!
I often do the same thing: research while I post.
I try to mine in advance. But it doesn’t always work that way. Grin. Kind of like getting homework done ahead of time.
Great photos of these near rellies. The post reminded me of the macaques in India – you never knew when one would swoop at you. We learned never to carry food around.
Alison