Olive Baboon
Papio anubis
East Africa's most widespread baboon, with olive-grey fur and a black dog-like face.
| Scientific name | Papio anubis |
|---|---|
| Swahili name | Nyani |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Primates |
| Family | Cercopithecidae |
| Size | Body length about 60-85 cm (excluding tail), weight about 15-30 kg; males much larger than females |
How to identify
Olive-grey-green fur, a bare black face without a mane crest, sturdy build with a projecting muzzle; males have long canine teeth
Habitat
Savanna, woodland, riverine strips and hills; also frequents areas near human settlements
Diet
Omnivorous, eating grasses, fruit, seeds, tubers, insects and small vertebrates
When it is active
Diurnal, foraging in troops by day and roosting in trees or on cliffs at night
Where it lives
Across the African Sahel into East Africa; widespread in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia
How to spot it
Easily seen in troops around camps, roadsides and riverbanks; secure your food and never feed them
Photography tips
Capture social interactions and mother-and-infant scenes for storytelling; use a telephoto to keep a safe distance; avoid staring at dominant males
Threats
Retaliatory killing due to crop-raiding, and habitat loss
Similar species
Yellow baboon (paler, more yellowish and slightly smaller); olive baboons are generally bulkier and darker green
