Hunting Portal
Namibia

Chacma or Cape baboons occur all over the country. Their colouring varies from olive to dark grey and so does their size. The largest specimen are found in Namibia. Adult males stand about 150 cm / 60 inch at the shoulder and have a body mass of up to 44 kg / 97 lb. Chacma baboons live in troops governed by a distinct social hierarchic structure. Prime males take on the dominant role. Male animals unite to built a “defence force”, acting bravely against attackers, most of all leopards. If there is danger, troop members warn one another with a short bisyllabic bark. Their strong carnassials are good for many tasks, which should be borne in mind by the hunter, as they can be quite dangerous.

On farmland baboons will occasionally have to be stopped from being a nuisance and the farmer might have to reduce their numbers, since they do not only cause damage in the field and orchards, but also to windmills and stored agricultural equipment. Baboons are mainly omnivorous, feeding primarily on a large variety of fruit and leaves, but also on insects, caterpillars, and even scorpions which they find under stones. Birds and smaller mammals, including sheep, lambs or goat kids, are a welcome changed in the diet.

Vervet monkeys only occur in north-eastern Namibia. These apes, with their beautiful marking and “sweet” little face, stand about 65cm / 26 inch and have a mass of about 5,5 kg / 12 lb. Their social behaviour is similar to that of baboons; they feed mainly on fruit and leaves.