Featured Animal
Larry

Baboon

Order : Primate
Family: Cercopithecidae
Genus: Papio 
Species: hamadryas

Location: Inhabits semi-arid plains and rocky hill country in Ethiopia and Somalia in Africa, and Saudi Arabia and Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula. They are found from sea level to 2600 meters. They spend the night on rocky cliffs, sometimes foraging miles during the day but returning to the cliffs to sleep.

Diet: Food consists of practically anything edible, but is chiefly vegetarian supplemented with protein-rich insects, hares and other small animals. In their dry, sandy environment they learn where to find small pools and where to dig for water.

Social Behavior: Hamadryas baboons are socially and structurally distinct from other species of baboon. Males are related to each other and females move between groups. They sleep on rocky cliffs in aggregations that may number as many as 750. 

Interesting Facts: Larry was a research animal that came to the Sanctuary about 20 years ago. He was traumatized and neurotic. Now, years later he is socialized and likes to watch cartoons on TV!

Status in Wild: Hamadryas Baboons are listed as near threatened by the IUCN