Papio anubis

Highly social and diurnal, olive baboons live in multi-male, multi-female troops (dozens to >100 individuals) with complex dominance hierarchies for both sexes. They are largely terrestrial but climb and sleep in trees or on cliffs for safety; communication includes vocal calls, facial expressions, grooming, scent marking and ritualized threat displays. Omnivorous and opportunistic, they forage on fruits, seeds, roots, insects, small vertebrates and human crops, and will scavenge when available.

Breeding can be seasonal or opportunistic depending on local climate and food; females typically reach sexual maturity at ~3–5 years, males later. Gestation lasts about six months (roughly 165–180 days), usually producing a single infant; mothers provide primary care while alloparenting (other group members helping) is common. Males may compete intensely for mating access, and changes in male dominance can lead to infanticide risk in some populations.

Sexual dimorphism is pronounced: adult males are substantially larger and display bigger canines than females. Morphological traits include a heavy jaw and cheek crests, long forelimbs for quadrupedal movement, a long tail (not prehensile), and a cheek pouch for temporary food storage. Their flexible diet, cognitive problem-solving, and boldness make them successful in disturbed and human-modified landscapes.

Olive baboons have roamed much of sub-Saharan Africa for millennia and appear in archaeological and historical records where they impacted and interacted with human communities. Their ability to exploit agricultural crops and refuse has intensified human–baboon encounters since landscape changes began.

Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN at species level due to broad range and large overall population, but many local populations suffer from habitat loss, persecution as crop pests, hunting, and disease. Conservation emphasis is on reducing human–wildlife conflict, protecting habitat corridors, and monitoring disease transmission between livestock/humans and baboons.