Chacma or Cape
baboons occur al over the country. Their colouring varies from olive to dark
grey and so does their size. The largest specimen are found in Namibia.
Adult males stand about 150 cm / 60 inch at the shoulder and have a body
mass of up to 44 kg / 97 lb. Chacma baboons live in troops governed by a
distinct social hierarchic structure. Prime males take on the dominant role.
Male animals unite to built a “defence force”, acting bravely against
attackers, most of all leopards. If there is danger, troop members warn one
another with a short bisyllabic bark. Their strong carnassials are good for
many tasks, which should be borne in mind by the hunter, as they can be
quite dangerous.
On
farmland baboons will occasionally have to be stopped from being a nuisance
and the farmer might have to reduce their numbers, since they do not only
cause damage in the field and orchards, but also to windmills and stored
agricultural equipment. Baboons are mainly omnivorous, feeding primarily on
a large variety of fruit and leaves, but also on insects, caterpillars, and
even scorpions which they find under stones. Birds and smaller mammals,
including sheep, lambs or goat kids, are a welcome changed in the diet.
Vervet monkeys only occur
in north-eastern Namibia. These apes, with their beautiful marking and
“sweet” little face, stand about 65cm / 26 inch and have a mass of about 5,5
kg / 12 lb. Their social behaviour is similar to that of baboons; they feed
mainly on fruit and leaves.