Primates Primates
Cercopithecidae
Papio hamadryas
(Linnaeus, 1758)
(Eng) (Hamadryas) baboon
(Fre) (Hamadryas) babouin
Taxonomic notes
Although the 5-species arrangement of the baboons (Papio) is still widely used (Oates, 1996), the classification of Wilson & Reeder (1993) is retained here. P. hamadryas, therefore, includes at least five subspecies: P. h. papio (Guinea baboon) from south Mauritania to Sierra Leone; P. h. hamadryas (Sacred baboon) in east Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia; P. h. cynocephalus (Yellow baboon) from Somalia to the Zambezi valley and across south-central Africa to Benguela (Angola); P. h. ursinus (Chacma baboon) all over South Africa northwards to the Zambezi valley, Caprivi and the Angolan coast; and P. h. anubis (Olive baboon), the most extensively distributed of all baboons, ranging throughout Sahelian woodland from southern Mauritania and Mali to the Sudan and southwards to former Zaire and Tanzania.
IUCN threat category
The Guinea baboon, P. h. papio, and the Sacred baboon, P. h. hamadryas, (which here are considered as subspecies of P. hamadryas, but are listed as separate species, P. papio and P. hamadryas, by Baillie & Goombridge, 1996) are classified as Lower Risk - near threatened (LR: nt).
Available information
Studies on this species have been carried out throughout its distribution range.
East Africa: The species' ecology has been intensively studied particularly in Kenya and Uganda. An overall view of the ecology and conservation of coexisting forest primates is found in Rowell (1966) and Struhsaker (1981). Habitat use and selection in the Diani Beach Forest was investigated by Moreno-Black & Maples (1977), while data on spacing patterns and ranging behaviour are found in Harding (1976). Population dynamics, dispersal, and behavioural aspects of the species' ecology are discussed by several authors (Alberts & Altmann, 1995; Hausfater, 1977; Sambrook & Whiten, 1995; Wasser & Wasser, 1995).
Several comparative studies on primate ecology include this species (Aldrich-Blake, 1979; Barton et al., 1996; Bourliere, 1985; Chalmers, 1973; Dunbar, 1988; Eisenberg et al., 1979; Hall, 1966; Pusey & Packer, 1987; Struhsaker, 1979). A comparative study of the ecology of coexisting primates in Ethiopia was carried out by Crook & Aldrich-Blake (1968) and Dunbar & Dunbar (1974). Data on the species' presence and conservation issues in the riverine forest of the Jubba Valley (Somalia) are reported by Varty (1988). Information on the species' presence in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea is found in Funaioli (1971), and Yalden et al. (1977; 1996). Notes on its presence in the Simen Mountains (Ethiopia) are found in Nievergelt (1981).
West Africa: No specific studies on the species' ecology have been conducted. Data on the species' presence and some ecological notes, particularly on habitat use, are available for the Comoé National Park (Ivory Coast) (Geerling & Bokdam, 1973), and for two protected areas in Nigeria (Kainji National Park: Ayeni, 1980; Kwiambana Game Reserve: Ajayi et al., 1981). Its presence and conservation in Nigeria is discussed in Osemeobo (1988), while some notes on distribution in Ghana and in eastern Congo are found in Booth (1979) and Rahm & Christiaensen (1966) respectively.
Southern Africa: The ecology of the species has been thoroughly studied in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve (South Africa) by Hall (1962), while Henzi & Lycett (1995) focused on population dynamics and structure in the Drakensberg Mountains (South Africa). Aspects of habitat use and requirements, particularly in relation to water availability, were investigated in the Namib Desert by Kok & Nel (1996) and in the Zambezi woodland (Zimbabwe) by Dunham (1994). Data on the species' distribution in the Orange Free State and the Cape Province (South Africa) are found in Lynch (1983; 1989), while Pringle (1974) describes distribution and ecology in Natal (South Africa). Notes on its presence and some information on its ecology in Angola, northern Namibia and Lesotho are given by Feiler (1990), Viljoen (1982) and Lynch (1994) respectively. Updated data on its distribution and density in Botswana are found in Anonymous (1994). A complete account of the species' ecology in this part of the continent is found in Mills & Hes (1997) and Skinner & Smithers (1990).
General information on the species' ecology and distribution are found in Gautier-Hion et al. (1988), Estes (1991), Kingdon (1997) and Stuart & Stuart (1997). Status, conservation issues, and threats are discussed in Lee et al. (1988), Mittermeier (1986) and Oates (1994; 1996).
Known extent of occurrence
Papio has a wide distribution range from Senegal to Somalia (and Saudi Arabia), southwards to South Africa. Fig. 2.3.31.a was obtained from the map in Kingdon (1997), and revised in accordance with Oates (1996) and other available sources (such as Lernould, 1988).
Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model
This species occupies all types of woodland, savanna and steppe; it occurs also in forests and semi-desert vegetation (Kingdon, 1997; Lee et al., 1988; Yalden et al., 1977).
Based on these environmental preferences, the following scores were assigned (Fig. 2.3.31.b) (2.3.31.a):
|
Score |
|
|
1 |
Savannas, savanna mosaics and forest mosaics. |
|
2 |
Forests; semi-desert vegetation, regs and wadis, Sharomontane vegetation and cropland mosaics. |
|
3 |
Absolute desert and cropland. |
|
suitable |
moderately suitable |
unsuitable |
Total |
||||
|
km2 |
% |
km2 |
% |
km2 |
% |
km2 |
% |
|
12 349 739 |
79 |
2 720 582 |
17 |
601 471 |
4 |
15 671 792 |
100 |
Tab 2.3.31.a: Cumulative size (km2) of areas pertaining to the different environmental suitability class within the Extent of Occurrence.
|
Number Patches (NP) |
Mean Patch Size (MPS) km2 |
Patch Size SD (PSSD) km2 |
Largest Patch Index (LPI) % |
Mean Shape Index (MSI) |
Area-Weighted Mean Shape Index (AWMSI) |
|
|
suitable |
1 411 |
8 794 |
325 082 |
80.5 |
1.23 |
49.17 |
|
moderately suitable |
7 500 |
369 |
7 125 |
3.32 |
1.26 |
7.07 |
|
Total AO |
354 |
42 866 |
800 038 |
99.34 |
1.21 |
20.11 |
Tab 2.3.31.b: Area of Occupancy fragmentation indexes.
Probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model
The output of the probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model is shown in Fig. 2.3.31.c.
Validation
|
% of EO in sample areas |
Number of valid plots |
Index of Accordance (%) |
|
6.66 |
259 |
63.71 |
Tab 2.3.31.c: Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model validation parameters.
Comments and conservation issues
The known EO extends over most of sub-Saharan Africa, excluding only the most dense and humid forest: it also includes a few small enclaves in the Sahel region. The species is very adaptable and more that 95% of the EO is classified as suitable or moderately suitable. This figures are well supported by the result of the field work (Index of Accordance 63.71%). As expected, the AO is not severely fragmented, even when only the most suitable portion is considered: the LPI shows a large continuous patch that occupies most of the range. A small portion of the AO is included in the existing network of protected areas, but the species does not seem to be in immediate danger (Lee et al. 1988). P. h. hamadryas may suffer from negative human pressure, but all other races remain common and widespread in spite of vigorous local trapping, shooting and poisoning; baboons are considered vermin in most countries.
|
SUITABILITY CLASS |
inside |
outside |
Total |
|
suitable |
6.77 |
72.03 |
78.80 |
|
moderately suitable |
1.42 |
15.94 |
17.36 |
|
unsuitable |
0.40 |
3.44 |
3.84 |
|
Total |
8.59 |
91.41 |
100 |
Tab 2.3.31.d: Percent of environmental suitability classes within EO (as obtained from the categorical-discrete distribution model) inside and outside the protected areas.
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