Wildlife
Gelada baboons are not actually true baboons, although they look very similar and are easily recognisable by the patches of hairless skin on their chest, which turns crimson when females are in oestrus. They are in fact the last surviving species of a once widespread group of grass-grazing primates. Geladas live in large groups of as many as 600 members. Such a complex society requires clear communication, and geladas use visual signals, such as facial expression and body posture, to interact.
Scientific name: Theropithecus gelada
Rank: Species
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In retreat
Gelada baboons were one of Africa’s successful primates; they are now living on the edge.
Gelada baboons were one of Africa’s most successful primates; they are now a species living on the edge.
Gelada monkey attack
Twelve year old Dereje defends his crop against attack from the Gelada monkeys in Ethiopia.
In the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia, a harvest is under attack from a ravenous enemy. Twelve year old Dereje steps up to defend his crops from the cunning Gelada monkeys.
High life
The most sociable monkeys are vegetarians with a head for heights.
The most sociable monkeys are vegetarians with a head for heights.
Fighting faces
When energy is scarce it can't be wasted on fighting.
Living high up in the Ethiopian Highlands, gelada baboons have to survive on a meagre diet of grass. To extract enough energy from such a poor diet, they have to spend much of their time grazing. Consequently, energy isn't wasted on trivial disputes so when tensions rise between dominant males, face-pulling is the preferred method of suppression.
Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder.
The Gelada baboon can be found in a number of locations including: Africa. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Gelada baboon distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Least Concern
Population trend: Decreasing
Year assessed: 2008
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The gelada (Theropithecus gelada), sometimes called the gelada baboon, is a species of Old World monkey found only in the Ethiopian Highlands, with large populations in the Semien Mountains. Theropithecus is derived from the Greek root words for "beast-ape." Like its close relatives the baboons (genus Papio), it is largely terrestrial, spending much of its time foraging in grasslands.
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Hierarchical
Tactile sense
Acoustic communication
Herbivorous
Altitude tolerant
Maternal care
Polygynous
Active at birth
Social
Adapted to running
Chemical communication
Sexual dimorphism
Visual communication
Viviparous