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The Olive Baboon is the baboon species found in Cameroon. Baboons are ground dwelling savannah monkeys, also found in woodland and at the rainforest edge. Male Baboons are double the size and weight of females.

where are they found?

The Olive Baboon can be found across sub Saharan Africa.

what do they eat?

Baboons are omnivorous. They eat mainly grass, fruit, gum and tubers, but will kill small animals for food if they are available.

They have cheek pouches which act as pockets that can be filled with food whilst on the move, which can be eaten later at leisure.

baboon facts

Males are dominant over females. The winner gains dominance and access to food, water and a mate.

Males will often join forces to defeat a third more dominant male. Infant baboons inherit their mothers status. This means infants of a superior female can take food from a low ranking adult.

Baboons walk on the palms of their hands whilst chimpanzees walk on their knuckles.

If baboons and chimpanzees meet in the wild they will play together.

The baboons dog-like body, muzzle and tail gives them the name 'monkey dog.' Baboons can walk up to 5 km a day.

Presenting their rear is a sign of submission.

Red-Capped Mangabeys have a distinctive red head, and a white tip to their tail. They are excellent jumpers, spending much of their time in the trees.

where are they found?

They are found in central West Africa (Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon).

what do they eat?

In the wild, they eat mostly fruit, but also leaves, mushrooms, shoots, nuts, grubs, ants, and insects.

red-cap facts

Red-Capped Mangabeys are intensively hunted in Cameroon. Its habitat is also being destroyed by man through logging and farming.

Red-Caps live in multi male groups of 14 to 37 individuals and have been observed splitting into subgroups to look for food.

They do not form all-male groups, but solitary males have been observed.

Gestation in red Caps is approximately 175 days (5.5-6 months), and twin births are rare.

These primates are named 'mangabey' after the port city of Mangabe in Madagascar, because they were mistakenly thought to be found in Madagascar.

They forage in the canopy, as well as through ground leaf litter.