Baboons live in groups of 10-100, usually around 50, and these are a called a troop. The troop has a range of about 25 square kilometres, but some of this area may be shared with other troops. At night the troop congregates at a chosen tree or cliff where they will sleep. They normally have more than one sleeping site within their territory and use them on a rotational basis. The baboons descend in the morning to search for food, but do not travel too far from their sleeping spot.

Yellow baboons are active during the day, resting during hot periods. They spend most of the daylight hours on the ground and sleep at night in trees or rock shelters. Baboons walk on all fours, but frequently sit on their bottoms whether on the ground or in trees. They are also good climbers.

There are more males in the troop than females. A pecking order or dominance pattern exists, whereby top males have more mating rights than lower ranked males, and the females follow a certain dominance pattern of their own. Dominant animals get priority access to scarce resources, lead troop movements and take the major role in troop protection. Dominant females, who do more mating, appear to reproduce more successfully and their offspring have a higher survival rate. Grooming and searching for fleas is also an important social activity among the troop.

Baboons are very exposed to predators when on the ground, particularly leopards, and are always on alert, often associating with other animals such as impalas. If a predator approaches, the males give an alarm bark and the troop heads for the trees. If no trees are available the vulnerable members will congregate in the centre of the group and the males surround them.

Diet

Yellow baboons are omnivorous animals. Their diet consists of fruit, grasses, leaves, roots, small reptiles, bird┐s eggs and insects. They may also sometimes kill new born antelopes and leopard cubs. If water is not freely available to them they will dig holes to search for it.

Adaptations

The yellow baboon┐s hand is well adapted for manipulating objects, with a thumb that opposes the other digits. Special pads have adapted its bottom for long periods of sitting.