Baboons

Baboons
Linda Brent, Ph.D.
Chimp Haven, Inc.
Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research
Thomas M. Butler, D.V.M., M.S., DACLAM
Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research
enrichfor mnonhueman pnrimatets

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Baboons

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Introducton
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Nonhuman primates maintained in captivity have a valuable role in education
and research. They are also occasionally used in entertainment. The scope of
these activities can range from large, accredited zoos to small “roadside” exhib-
its; from national primate research centers to small academic institutions with
only a few monkeys; and from movie sets to street performers. Attached to these
uses of primates comes an ethical responsibility to provide the animals with an
environment that promotes their physical and behavioral health and well-be-
ing. Thus, an obligation is entailed that those individuals/institutions caring for
captive primates should make every effort to ensure adequate veterinary care and ......
husbandry are provided, that the animals are housed in appropriate facilities,

and that as broad a range of species-typical behaviors are able to be expressed by
the animals as is possible for the captive environment.
This book serves as an introduction to the basic behavior and environmental
enrichment of several species of nonhuman primates that are more commonly
used in education, research and entertainment. In many ways, this book is
meant to be a “how to” manual; it is not intended to be a broad scientific review
of the primate behavior and enrichment literature. The fundamental premise
taken throughout each chapter is that for an enrichment program to be effec-
tive, there must be a basic understanding of the biology and behavior of the
primate species. The species addressed in this series are: baboons, capuchins,
chimpanzees, macaques, marmosets and tamarins, and squirrel monkeys. Each
species-section can be read as a stand-alone document without need to reference
the other sections. This then allows the user to distribute the different sections
to personnel caring for the specific animals.
Each section is divided into five parts: 1) Background, comprised of the habitat
of the primate, the physical features of the primate, its psychological and/or
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social behavior, and its mating and reproductive behavior; 2) Social World;
3) Physical World; 4) Special Cases, describing any age-related considerations
and concerns associated with individual housing; and 5) Problem Behaviors.
The content of this series has been provided by members of the Association of
Primate Veterinarians (APV) and the American Society of Primatologists (ASP)
who have special expertise in the species addressed. This book is intended to be
a primer because it is, indeed, an introduction to the subject of environmental
enrichment for primates housed in a diversity of conditions. A list of references
and/or other resources (principally on-line) is provided at the end of each chap-
ter that provide additional guidance. The use of scientific references has been
limited, but should the reader desire more information about a specific subject,
the links at the end of the sections will provide direction to obtaining additional
detailed information. Readers are also directed to the National Research Council
publication, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (1996) and
the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal Welfare Regulations to
review the regulatory requirements of the Public Health Service and the USDA
for the provision of environmental enrichment.
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The APV and ASP wish to thank the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, in
particular Ms. Carol Wigglesworth and Dr. Axel Wolff; the U.S. Department of
Agriculture/Animal Care, in particular Dr. Chester Gipson; and Ms. Dale Feu-
rer, editor, and Ms. Lori Wieder, graphics and layout production, for their as-
sistance with this project. The authors acknowledge the helpful contributions of
Dr. David J. Shepherdson, Conservation Program Scientist, Metro Washington
Park Zoo; Ms. April D. Truitt, Director, Primate Rescue Center, Inc.; and Ms.
Kathleen Conlee, Program Officer, Humane Society of the United States. Spe-
cial thanks also go to the chapter authors Dr. Christian Abee, Dr. Kate Baker,
Dr. Linda Brent, Dr. Thomas Butler, Dr. Jeffrey Fite, Dr. Dorothy Fragazy, Dr.
Jeffrey French and Dr. A. Michele Schuler, and to the reviewers from the Ameri-
can Society of Primatologists and the Association of Primate Veterinarians.
—Kathryn Bayne, M.S., Ph.D., D.V.M., DACLAM, CAAB
Editor, Working Group
This project is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Sylvia Taylor, Veterinary
Medical Officer, Animal Care, U.S. Department of Agriculture, who
was a proponent of providing enrichment to nonhuman primates and
was generous in sharing her knowledge and expertise in this regard.
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Baboons
Background
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Habtat
Baboons live in many parts of Africa, primarily in dry savannah woodlands.
They are the largest and most terrestrial, or ground dwelling, of the cheek pouch
monkeys (Cercopithecines). There are five types of baboons--olive, yellow, red,
chacma and hamadryas--which may interbreed to form hybrids in captivity
and, in some places, in the wild. Olive and Yellow baboons are found in many
areas of equatorial Africa and are typically called savannah baboons. Hamadryas
baboons inhabit the highlands of Ethiopia. Red or guinea baboons live in gallery
forest and woodland savannas of West Africa. Chacma baboons reside in south-
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ern African woodland to semi-desert habitats. Home ranges of baboons may
cover approximately 10,000 acres.
Physcal Features
Baboons walk on all four limbs, and their forelimbs and hindlimbs are approxi-
mately the same size. Males (44 to 53 lbs.) are much larger than females (26 to
35 lbs.) and have long canine teeth. The tail is moderately long and is typically
held in a characteristic U-shape. Baboons have prominent ischial callosities,
which are bright red in some species. They have a prominent muzzle. The life
span of a baboon ranges from 20 to 30 years.
Behavor
Baboons have a number of distinct vocalizations, including:
• Alarm bark – loud, rapid, sound to indicate potential threat or challenge
• Lipsmack – short, repeated clicking of the lips or tongue, associated with
friendly behavior and approaches to a dominant individual or infant
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• Grunt – low, snort-like sound, often associated with group unity or
communication
• Ooer – moo-like sound made by infants in distress
• Gek – quick “aaack” indicating disturbance
• Scream – shrill, loud, high-pitched sound made when aggressive or fearful
Other gestures that indicate a threat or aggression include brow raises that dis-
play white eyelids, yawns directed at a specific individual, hitting the ground or
object rapidly (slapping), teeth grinding, and staring intently at another indi-
vidual.
Baboons travel and feed during the day and sleep in trees or cliffs at night for
protection from predators. Being very good scavengers, baboons can survive in
areas that other primates cannot. They spend about half of their waking hours
looking for, processing, and eating food. They may dig up roots and eat insects,
lizards, small mammals, and even crabs or fish if near water. In captivity, they
spend more time in social interaction and much less time feeding. Captive ba-
boons can be fed a complete, commercially available diet, supplemented with a
variety of other fruits and vegetables.
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Matng and
Reproducton
The female’s skin
on her rump, or
perineal area, swells
greatly according
to her menstrual
cycle. This is usu-
ally referred to as
sex skin. Hama-
dryas females have
a particularly large
sex skin swelling.
During the period
of maximal swelling,
she will ovulate and
be most receptive
to mating. The sex
Prominent sex skin on a baboon (photo by E. Glover, Southwest
Foundation for Biomedical Research (SFBR)).
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skin becomes flat and takes on a bright red or purple hue when she becomes
pregnant. Gestation lasts from 18 to 24 weeks. Infants are born black with pink
faces and bottoms. They need the mother’s protection, milk and transportation
to survive. At about four to six months, the infant begins to change to the color
of the adults. They are generally weaned by colony managers around five to six
months of age, and although the natural weaning process will vary among ba-
boon species, it generally occurs between one to two years of age. They become
sexually mature at about three to five years.
Socal World
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Baboons live in a strict society. They clearly know their rank in the group and
the rank of others, and behave toward others as appropriate for their dominance
status. Baboons are very protective of infants and tolerant of juveniles, and
males may carry and groom infants on occasion. Friendships have been reported
between particular males and females.
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A social group of baboons (photo by E. Glover, SFBR).
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Baboons are incredibly social animals and should not be kept isolated. Infants
should be kept with their mothers for at least a year to develop normal social
skills. Compared to most other primates, baboons are fairly easy to put together
into groups. Preferably, subspecies should be kept together, or at least in groups
with similar structure as found in the wild, which can differ among and within
species, probably based on the nature of the habitat in which the animals are
found. Groups that combine a single male with multiple females are most com-
mon in captivity, but all-male groups also can be formed. Groups with multiple
females and males are more difficult unless there is enough space for them to
avoid aggression, especially fights over mates.
Physcal World
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Housng
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baboons are
quite hardy and
adaptable. They
can be success-
fully housed in a
variety of captive
conditions, from
indoor cages to
large outdoor
semi-free rang-
ing enclosures.
Sturdy cages are
required because
baboons are
Baboon sleeping off the ground on a high shelf (photo by E. Glover, SFBR).
strong and will manipulate the cage a great deal. Cages should be constructed
to prevent the baboons from pulling off pieces of the cage and eating them.
Baboons favor high perches. While some facilities have successfully used old tires
and ropes for resting areas and swings, others have reported that the baboons eat
Baboons

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the items and become sick. Alternative
swings and resting areas can be con-
structed from metal or polyvinyl chlo-
ride. Large areas and/or visual barriers are
necessary so that low-ranking individuals
can avoid others. If aggression within the
group is a problem, elevated resting areas
or hiding areas should be added to help
mitigate the aggression.
Enrchment
Feeding is a popular enrichment activ-
ity for baboons, who are very motivated
by food. Due to their strict dominance
hierarchy, only the most dominant male
and female may eat food items provided
to a group. To avoid this type of mo-
nopolization, it is best to scatter smaller
Baboon using a recycled and modified soap
food items all around the enclosure. In
barrel for perching (photo by E. Glover, SFBR).
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addition to feeding commercially avail-

able, nutritionally balanced diets, baboons can be offered food enrichments such
as grains, fruits, vegetables, vegetation, bark, coconuts, peanut butter, dry fruit,
honey, candy, cereal. The feeding of treats should not compromise the baboon’s
appetite for the nutritionally balanced food, so the quantity of treats provided
should be monitored closely. Baboons will also ingest items that are not healthy
for them, such as rocks, wire, metal or other harmful materials. Bloat has been
reported if baboons eat too many orange peels or gas-producing vegetables (e.g.,
broccoli), and they may become impacted if they eat too much hair, hay or
wood.

Objects containing food must be heavy or they will be destroyed quickly. Puzzles
made of sturdy materials, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), can be filled with
treats. Toys on short chains can be coated with honey and dipped in grain, then
frozen and hung on the cage, for a treat. Once the baboons eat the food, they
can then play with the toy that remains. Frozen blocks of juice or water with
fruit inside can be given to the baboons in the cage or enclosure, or hung from
the roof with a chain. Locking nuts are necessary so the baboons do not unscrew
the devices. Also, sturdy clips should be used to attach the device, and puzzles
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should be removed
when empty to keep
the baboons from
breaking them.
Since baboons ma-
nipulate and chew
many objects, very
sturdy dog toys make
good baboon toys
(e.g., rigid plastic
balls; large, thick
rubber toys; hard
nylon dog chews).
Hard, nontoxic logs
or wood pieces can
Baboon with durable toy (photo by E. Glover, SFBR).
be used for chewing and even as perches. Pieces at least two to three inches in
diameter are best so that they are not immediately destroyed. Wood items must
be replaced on occasion
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and should be monitored

so that large pieces or
slivers do not endanger
the baboons.
Other types of enrich-
ment include video-
tapes, mirrors, and wind
chimes, which are espe-
cially helpful enrichment
for singly caged baboons.
Several commercially
available enrichment
items, including fleece
boards made for groom-
ing and plastic balls with
holes in them and filled
with treats, are not as
Baboon on a shelf in enclosure (photo by E. Glover, SFBR).
useful for baboons and
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