The hamadryas baboon was a sacred animal to the ancient Egyptians and appears in various roles in ancient Egyptian religion; hence its alternative name, the sacred baboon. Hamadryas baboons are large-bodied monkeys with strong builds and dog-like muzzles.
Photographed this one; seems angry at the North Carolina Zoo.
Hamadryas Baboon
A Hamadryas Baboon baby is looking quizzically at visitors at the North Carolina Zoo
Baby Hamadryas Baboon
Grooming is indeed a valuable commodity in itself, likely due to its stress- and tension-reducing effects. Primates also groom socially in moments of boredom, and this act has been shown to reduce tension and stress.
One hamadryas baboon is grooming another at the North Carolina Zoo.
Fellow Grooming
The hamadryas also differs from other baboons in its social behaviour. Instead of maintaining a large cohesive troop, hamadryas split during the day into groups consisting of a single male and his “harem” of up to six (or more) females. Unlike most species that live in one-male social units, hamadryas males use aggression both during and after takeovers to condition females to maintain proximity.
This one at the North Carolina Zoo looks pretty aggressive.
Hamadryas Baboon Staring
The hamadryas baboon is a species of baboon within the family of Old World monkeys. It is the northernmost of all the baboons, being native to the Horn of Africa and the southwestern region of the Arabian Peninsula.
Here is one at the North Carolina Zoo.
Hamadryas Baboon