# Olive Baboon (*Papio anubis*) > The olive baboon is a large, ground-dwelling monkey found across the savannas, woodlands, and rocky hills of equatorial Africa. Highly intelligent and adaptable, it lives in big social troops, eats almost anything, and can run at up to 45 km/h (28 mph). Males can weigh around 30 kg, roughly twice the size of females. Olive baboons live 25 to 30 years in the wild and are listed as Least Concern. - **Category:** Mammal - **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern - **Range:** Olive baboon across equatorial Africa from Mali and Ethiopia to Tanzania and northern South Africa in savanna and woodland. - **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/baboon/ - **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16 ## Scientific classification - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Primates - **Family:** Cercopithecidae - **Genus:** Papio ## Facts at a glance | Attribute | Value | | --- | --- | | Scientific name | Papio anubis | | Diet | Omnivore — grasses, seeds, insects, small mammals, and crops | | Habitat | Savannas, woodlands, and rocky hills of equatorial Africa | | Lifespan | 25–30 years in the wild (longer in captivity) | | Weight | 15–30 kg (33–66 lb); males twice female size | | Top speed | Up to 45 km/h (28 mph) | | Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) | ## Troop life and social structure Olive baboons live in large, complex troops that can number from a dozen to well over a hundred individuals. These groups are built around a core of related females with a stable dominance hierarchy, while males move between troops and compete for rank and mating opportunities. Social bonds are reinforced through grooming, which soothes tension and cements alliances that can decide an individual's status. Life in a big troop offers protection from predators such as lions, leopards, and hyenas. ## Diet and foraging Baboons are opportunistic omnivores that eat grasses, seeds, fruit, roots, insects, and small mammals, and they will readily raid crops and rubbish where people live nearby. Their varied appetite and clever foraging are a big part of why they thrive in so many habitats. They use their hands with great dexterity to dig up roots, strip seeds, and turn over stones for insects. Cheek pouches let them stuff food away quickly and chew it later in a safer spot. ## Intelligence and communication Olive baboons are among the more intelligent monkeys, capable of learning, planning, and forming intricate social strategies. They communicate through a rich repertoire of grunts, screams, and barks, along with facial expressions and postures that signal threat, submission, or reassurance. A yawning male flashing his long canine teeth is issuing a clear warning to rivals. Their sharp memories help them track the shifting alliances and rivalries that run through troop life. ## Appearance and build The olive baboon takes its name from the greenish-grey sheen of its coat, and it has a dog-like muzzle, powerful jaws, and a sloping body around 1.1 metres long. Males are far larger than females, weighing up to about 30 kg, roughly twice a female's size, and carry a mane of longer hair over the shoulders. Both sexes have formidable canine teeth that can rival a leopard's in length. Their strong limbs and calloused sitting pads suit a life spent largely on the ground. ## Habitat and adaptability Olive baboons range widely across equatorial Africa, occupying savannas, open woodlands, and rocky hills from Mali to Ethiopia and south into Tanzania. They are one of the most adaptable primates, thriving everywhere from semi-desert to moist forest edges and increasingly around farms and towns. Access to water and to safe sleeping sites, usually tall trees or cliffs, shapes where a troop can settle. This flexibility is a key reason the species remains so widespread and numerous. ## Breeding and young Female baboons signal their fertility with conspicuous swellings, and dominant males compete for the chance to mate, though females also form lasting "friendships" with particular males. A single infant is born after a gestation of about six months and clings to its mother's belly before later riding jockey-style on her back. Youngsters learn the troop's social rules through play and close observation over several years. In the wild olive baboons can live 25 to 30 years, and longer in captivity. ## Frequently asked questions ### What do olive baboons eat? Olive baboons are omnivores that eat grasses, seeds, fruit, roots, insects, and small mammals. They are highly opportunistic and will also raid crops and rubbish near human settlements, which is a major part of their success as a species. ### How big do olive baboons get? Males can weigh up to about 30 kg (66 lb) and measure around 1.1 metres in body length, while females are roughly half that size. This strong size difference between the sexes is typical of baboons. ### Are baboons dangerous? Baboons are powerful animals with long canine teeth and can be aggressive, especially males defending a troop or habituated animals raiding for food. Serious attacks on people are uncommon, but baboons should be treated with respect and never fed, as this encourages bold and risky behaviour. ### How long do baboons live? Olive baboons typically live 25 to 30 years in the wild, and can live longer in captivity. Their long lifespan allows the complex social relationships and hierarchies of the troop to develop over many years. ### How fast can a baboon run? Olive baboons can run at up to 45 km/h (28 mph) on all fours. This speed, combined with their agility and ability to climb, helps them escape predators such as leopards and lions. ### Do baboons live in groups? Yes. Olive baboons live in large troops that can range from a dozen to more than a hundred members, organised around related females and a hierarchy of males. Troop life provides safety in numbers and a web of grooming-based social bonds. ## Sources - [IUCN Red List — Papio anubis.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Papio%20anubis&searchType=species) - [Animal Diversity Web — Papio anubis. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Papio_anubis/) --- Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/baboon/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.