Baboons Are Large, Old World Monkeys

Baboons are large, old world monkeys that reside in many different parts of Africa. They are largely terrestrial non-human primates that spend most of the daylight time on the ground, and the night in trees and caves. They live in social groups that can range from around 10 to around 100. An interesting fact about baboons is they are sexually dimorphic, meaning that the female baboons only grow to about 50-60 percent compared to the male baboons. Variations in troop mates happens when males are females migrate to other parts of Africa and join new groups. With baboons it is mostly males that leave their groups and migrate to other groups. Understanding the ecology, evolution, and social behavior of baboons teaches scientists more about their behavioral ecology.
Within the Baboon society, there is a similar goal between the males and the females: reproduction, or fitness. Between the two genders is a complicated process towards their goals for fitness. The
These strong social bonds are usually between female kin, and close proximity and grooming is important to the baboons. Grooming for baboons is where the skin is parted and debris, scabs, and insects is removed from the hair and skin by a female relative. These close social bonds within the females result in a longer life and an increase in infant survival. The social bonds with the males are a little different than with the females. Although male baboons do not ignore each other like other non-human primates, they are able to tolerate one another. The toleration between the male baboons does not mean they spend too much time near one another. Usually the relationships will become aggressive, to prevent and reduce conflicts baboons have a dominance hierarchy. These power relationship have males compete for the alpha male position in the group, which has a higher chance of securing access to ovulating