Range

Geladas are restricted to Ethiopia where they can be found in two populations across a pair of mountain ranges.

Habitat

These primates spend most of their time grazing in grasslands. At night they will retreat to cliffs to sleep.

Reproduction

Breeding can occur year round but appears to peak during the rainy season. When females come in to estrus this is indicated by a number of beads forming around the chest patch and their ano-gential region swelling.

The gestation period is 5-6 months following which it is most common for a single infant to be born. The female is responsible for almost all of the care of the infant. At birth the infant has red face, black hair and its eyes are closed.

For the first five weeks of life it is carried on the belly before moving to the back.

Weaning occurs between 12 and 18 months old.

Females mature at around 4 to 5 years old with males not maturing till between 5 and 7 years old.

Behavior

Unlike most primates they are poor climbers and spend as much as 99% of their time on the ground.

Geladas form a troop known as a one male unit (OMU) which is led by a single male with multiple females and their offspring.

Males groom their females regularly. When the group becomes too large and he is unable to provide this attention to each female some may leave and join a new male to create a new OMU.

These OMUs then form in to larger groups known as bands which may travel and forage together. OMUs may move between bands or roam on their own for a period of time. Multiple bands may also be seen foraging together during times where food is plentiful.

A male may attempt to challenge another male for control of his OMU. Typically the male will ferociously defend his territory and bare his large canines to try and scare away the attacker. On occasion though the females in the group will choose to back the new males and help to chase away their old leader.

They communicate with other geladas through a range of vocalizations and expressions.

Predators and Threats

Natural predators of the gelada include hyenas, leopards, jackals, foxes, servals and bearded vultures. Young may also suffer predation by birds of prey.

Humans have impacted this species through hunting both as retribution for those seen as a crop pest and to be used as lab animals. Previously they were hunted so the cape could be made in to hats which were sold to tourists. In some regions trophy hunting has been allowed to continue with the hunter required to obtain a permit.

Increasingly their habitat is being destroyed to be turned in to agricultural land.

Quick facts

The gelada is also known as the ‘bleeding hear baboon’ due to the large red patch on their chest.

Geladas are the last remaining members of a group of grass eating primates which once ranged across to India.

These animals are the second most terrestrial primate after humans.