Activity budget and behavioural patterns of Gelada Theropithecus gelada (Mammalia: Primates: Cercopithecidae) on the Gich Plateau of the Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

Gelada baboons (Theropithecus gelada) on the Gich Plateau of Ethiopia's Simien Mountains National Park exhibit significant seasonal variation in activity budgets, with feeding increasing to 56.7% of daylight hours during the dry season while resting decreases. This high-altitude population, at the climatic and altitudinal limits of their range, also shows age/sex class differences in behavior, except for social activities. The study used continuous focal animal scan sampling over a year (May 2013–April 2014) to track time allocation across feeding, traveling, resting, socializing, and other non-social behaviors. These findings highlight the adaptability of Geladas to extreme environments and underscore the importance of conservation efforts for this unique primate population.

Woldegeorgis, C., & Bekele, A. (2015). Activity budget and behavioural patterns of Gelada Theropithecus gelada (Mammalia: Primates: Cercopithecidae) on the Gich Plateau of the Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 7(8), 7409–7415. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.o4203.7409-15