The Adventures of an Aspiring Primatologist: Babies, Babies, Babies

There have been a total of eight small infants, including four births, while I have been here in South Africa studying the chacma baboons of Tokai forest. The baby baboons that tumble around while I do my research on adult males never cease to make me laugh and their hilarity is a perpetual source of entertainment. The small babies could fit easily in your hand and it takes just about all of my self-control to avoid picking one up. What makes it even harder is that they are extraordinarily curious of us humans, as well. The newborn baboons stare at us with wide, inquisitive brown eyes and sometimes topple too far from their mothers to get a better look at the strange hairless creatures who scribble incessantly on clipboards.

Curious Malta

Krill and Jezebel

Infant baboons are born after about a 6-month gestation period. Their natal pelage is soft and fine with black coloration (newborns’ hair stands amusingly on end). This fur is replaced by the grey-blonde adult pelage around 6 months of age, making it easy to distinguish young baboons from the mischievous juveniles. Newborns have a red-pink skin that contrasts brilliantly with their dark fur and the darker skin of their mothers. They have wide brown eyes and massive pink ears that overwhelm the sides of their heads. They also have long, fluffy tails that are more than the length of their bodies that the babies have a tendency to trip over. It is a few weeks before the mother allows her baby to leave her breast and play with the others. After that moment, the little ones seem determined to test their independence more and more. They stand on the heads of the resting adult males, they tug on the hair of other females, they nibble and poke other babies, they jump into puddles, they chew on bark and grass, they wiggle in-between grooming pairs. Baby baboons are so uncoordinated, it is quite common to see them bouncing around on branches and tumbling to the ground or somersaulting along paths.

Baby Blub

Chewbacca, one of the infants who was killed

Tragically, only six of the eight infants are still alive and well. One was killed by infanticide during a fight with the two troops that I study and the other was a stillbirth. Morbidly, both heartbroken mothers carried the corpses of the dead infants for more than a week. This is natural and part of the grieving process for chacma baboons. The remaining infants are fascinating to watch as they transition from vulnerable infants to rambunctious juveniles. All six babies are in the MT1 troop, which means that ¼ of all females in the troop have infants.

Bonaparte

the male Pitt playing with Bonaparte

Bonaparte is the oldest infant at the moment and he is right at the transition point where his fur and face are changing from pink and black to brown and grey. His mother, Bonnie, possesses a high dominance rank and Bonaparte lives a life without a care in the world. He is incredibly adventurous, curious, and playful. The other baboons dare not torment him due to his high-ranking bloodline and Bonaparte has the audacity to jump around on just about everyone, including the dominant male.

Bonaparte 2 months ago when he still had black hair and pink skin

Bonaparte today with his changing pelage

Willow and Whitie

Willow is the second oldest infant and beginning to change in color. She has a blonde eyebrow and is one of the most inquisitive little ones. Her mother, Whitie, is low-ranking, older, and too weary to give Willow the attention she wants. Instead, Willow romps around the troop seeking grooming from other females. She frolics with the other babies often and loves to explore.

Basil (with Blub) grooming Willow

Willow

Malta

Malta with Harrison and Milka

Malta is the daughter of Milka and the favorite baby of the oldest adult male Harrison (see post on “The Boys” below). She is only a few months old and while she enjoys a certain dose of independence, she stays near her mother and Harrison often. Harri will cradle her and she will sit on top of his head while he grunts affectionately. It is a very sweet interaction to behold.

Day-old Jezebel

Jezebel and Joker

Jezebel was one of the infants born during my time here and it has been remarkable to watch her grow from a blind pink ball of fur into a mischievous little toddler. Her mother, Joker, is somewhat callous towards other baboons, although Jezebel is quite spirited. It is pretty hysterical to watch her as she bounces up and down on branches and wiggles her huge ears up and down.

Little Krill

Krill was born just about a month ago and she is exceptionally cute. Her hair is quite thin, making her pink ears look extremely gigantic. Her face is small and round and her odd-hairline gives her a look of permanent anxiety, yet she seems endearing and gentle.

two-day old Blub and Basil

Blub is my favorite infant. He was born just a couple weeks ago and has yet to leave the comfort of his mother’s breast. I was the only researcher out in the field the day after Blub’s birth, so of course I named him after my all-time favorite word. He is incredibly small, less than half the size of Bonaparte. Blub is the firstborn of his mother, Basil, and he came out bright pink and blind. Basil is a sweet mother and she always holds him close and grooms his tenderly, although she seems overwhelmed with the strain of caring for a miniature baboon. Since Blub is the youngest in the troop, the other females are constantly approaching Basil to inspect Blub and sneak a peak at the new baby. I am curious to see how Blub will begin to grow up and when Basil will let him play on his own.