baboon babies | charcoal

Baboons are among Africa’s most charismatic and intelligent primates, living in tightly structured troops where every individual has a place in a clear and complex hierarchy. Dominant males lead and protect, while females form lifelong family lines that anchor the group. Their young are endlessly curious and playful, learning social rules through games, gentle reprimands, and the watchful discipline of mothers, aunties, and older siblings. Baboons forage widely — digging, picking, cracking, and selecting food with remarkably human-like hands, capable of delicate precision and impressive problem-solving. Their intelligence is evident in everything from tool use to intricate communication, and yet they remain vulnerable: baboons are a favourite prey of leopards and lions, keeping the troop constantly alert.