Tag: Baboons

In exhibits that include more than one of any given species, it can often be difficult to tell one animal from another.  Ever wondered how keepers distinguish one from another?

One way keepers and Zoo visitors can distinguish between members of a species is the size of an individual. One good example of this is the elephants. Lilac is the smallest elephant, weighing a little under 8,000 pounds, while Chana and and Genny C weigh almost 9,000 pounds each! The elephants can also be identified by the size and shape of their tusks. Genny C has very long tusks, while Moki has short and stubby tusks.

When looking at birds, we can sometimes tell them apart by their bills. Examples of this can been see in both the Scarlet Ibis and the Sandhill Cranes. One bird has a significantly longer bill than the other. If they are roughly the same size, the length of the bill can be a great way to tell them apart!

The color patterns on some animals can also help to identify an individual. Some of the frogs here at Seneca Park Zoo are very close in size, but their color or spot patterns can help us to identify them. Sometimes a zoo keeper will use pictures or diagrams of each frog to help identify them while weighing or examining an individual.

Other ways to identify individuals can be the overall color of an animal. Even though they are the same species, often times their coloring is darker or lighter!

Sometimes individuals can have very small differences that can help keepers and visitors identify them. With twelve baboons at the Zoo, some traits that are used include their size (height/weight), the color of their coat, coloration of their eyes or skin on their face, the length of their tail, or distinguishing traits like their teeth showing or a tongue sticking out!

All of these traits can help keepers and visitors distinguish between individuals of a species. This is important because zoo keepers need to be able to identify the animals they work with to make sure they are staying healthy. Being able to identify them, means we can make sure all animals are eating, drinking and acting normally.

Next time you are at the Zoo, see if you can find differences between animals of the same species!

We have a troop of 12 baboons that have resided here at Seneca Park Zoo since 2008.  I have helped take care of these baboons for more than 5 years and as many of you know, the years tend to blur together after a while. So, when a visitor recently asked me how old some of our baboons were, I realized I didn’t remember their exact ages anymore! Have you ever wondered how old the baboons were?

Luckily, as part of our jobs, we keep medical records and protocols on all of our animals here at the Zoo, so finding the information I was looking for was pretty easy! There are 7 female baboons in our troop. Pimiento is the oldest at 22 years of age. She is easily identified because she has a very stocky build and always is sticking her tongue out!

Is 22 years old for a baboon? Pimiento would be considered just over middle aged, as a baboon’s life expectancy is mid 20s. The next oldest is Ursala at age 18 and then Pearl at 16. Our large alpha male of the troop, Mansino, is now 11 years old. He became the alpha male very early on due to lack of competition, at about 5 or 6 years of age. In the wild, males between the ages of 6 and 8 would begin to challenge each other for the alpha position and the rights to the females.

The other half of the troop are of similar ages. There are three females and two males that are all 8 years old. Three of these 8 year olds are the offspring of the three elder females mentioned earlier.

Lastly, some of you may remember three babies being born in 2011. Olivella, Samson and Pico de Limon are now 4 and a half. They are the offspring of the three 8 year old females and the alpha male, Mansino.

Watching the baboons grow up has been very rewarding to me. Their personalities are all unique and continue to develop every day. Their social structure is constantly affected and ever-changing as every single baboon ages.  It is amazing how quickly the time has gone, watching the babies turn into juveniles and juveniles into adults with babies of their own.  I’m sure everyone can relate to that!

 

–Jenna Bovee, Zoo Keeper