Australasian Hamadryas Baboon Population

[ApeLadyNZ]

The birth of another male infant will compound any challenges Auckland Zoo face in phasing out their troop. Females are easy to place and they could wait until the two elderly males pass of natural causes; but that leaves the prime aged Badi; the adolescent Jabari; and what’s believed to be a male infant. Hopefully this provides an incentive for the zoo to continue with this species (not unlike the giraffe at Adelaide that wouldn’t get into its moving crate).

Badi being the sire is a safe assumption. He’s a prime aged male and his only competition is two elderly males. I’d expect the majority of females (including all future eligible females) to be recruited into his harem. Yafeu effectively achieved this with Zala and Mali prior to his death; with Badi subsequently acquiring his harem.

With the new infant being male, I do hope that the zoo will drop the idea of phasing out the baboons. It would be easier to import females to Auckland than to place Jabari and the newcomer elsewhere. The baboon exhibit remains popular, especially with the birth of the new infant, and the zoo does have the resources to maintain a thriving troop.

 

[Zorro]

I agree. Demographically speaking, if this infant was a female they’d probably be fine for the next few years. Badi would inevitably acquire Naeemah as his fourth female once Afar passes and would probably concede an additional female (i.e. this infant once mature) to Jabari, who is a decade younger than his father.

However, for the sake of genetic diversity, it’d be advisable to bring in some unrelated females. The troop is already quite inbred. They could either import some unrelated females and have the Auckland bred females go on contraception (like Melbourne has recently done); or undertake a swap of either males or females with another zoo. Either way, Auckland have a healthy male/female ratio, so it’d be important to maintain that.

I wonder if they have looked at trying to obtain any new bloodlines from one of the research centres that hold them?

 

[Zoofan15]

I wonder if they have looked at trying to obtain any new bloodlines from one of the research centres that hold them?

That could be a worthwhile option to look into. The National Baboon Colony in Wallacia had 125 baboons on site in 2024 (with a capacity of up 165 baboons). Another document states that offspring are removed from their mothers as juveniles and grouped with other juveniles to mature; with breeding troops and bachelor troops held on site.

I infer from the above that with avenues for accomodating the inevitable surplus males, that females aren’t required in equal or greater numbers like they are across the region’s zoos and that they could surely spare a few to supplement troops held in our zoos.

 

[Zorro]

That could be a worthwhile option to look into. The National Baboon Colony in Wallacia had 125 baboons on site in 2024 (with a capacity of up 165 baboons). Another document states that offspring are removed from their mothers as juveniles and grouped with other juveniles to mature; with breeding troops and bachelor troops held on site.

I infer from the above that with avenues for accomodating the inevitable surplus males, that females aren’t required in equal or greater numbers like they are across the region’s zoos and that they could surely spare a few to supplement troops held in our zoos.

It seems a logical option with an unrelated groups with no importation required.
Monarto zoo could have one of the best Baboon exhibits in the region a the dry rocky sizeable landscaped area

 

[Zoofan15]

It seems a logical option with an unrelated groups with no importation required.
Monarto zoo could have one of the best Baboon exhibits in the region a the dry rocky sizeable landscaped area

I’m very excited to see what eventuates from Monarto’s plans to build a baboon exhibit. It will surely be built on a scale to accomodate a large troop:

The current plan is to build Monarto’s troop around Adelaide’s troop:

Harem 1:

1.0 Tomkay (2014) Horus x Chappi
0.1 Chappi (2003) Jarmah x Gina
0.1 Quasi (2017) Jabari x Qetesh
0.1 Lily (2022) Tomkay x Quasi
1.0 Jabari (2023) Tomkay x Quasi

Harem 2:

1.0 Djibouti (2016) Horus x Chappi
0.1 Mahali (2018) Jabari x Macey

The logical step from here is to add more females to each harem, with Jabari being at an age to start his own harem by the time they transfer. Perhaps another 12 females, there’s the potential for each male to have five females in their harem. Depending on exhibit capacity, breeding could then be regulated by allowing one female per harem to breed at a time (having two infants back to back). This would ensure a steady (but manageable) increase in numbers.

 

[ApeLadyNZ]

I’m very excited to see what eventuates from Monarto’s plans to build a baboon exhibit. It will surely be built on a scale to accomodate a large troop:

The current plan is to build Monarto’s troop around Adelaide’s troop:

Harem 1:

1.0 Tomkay (2014) Horus x Chappi
0.1 Chappi (2003) Jarmah x Gina
0.1 Quasi (2017) Jabari x Qetesh
0.1 Lily (2022) Tomkay x Quasi
1.0 Jabari (2023) Tomkay x Quasi

Harem 2:

1.0 Djibouti (2016) Horus x Chappi
0.1 Mahali (2018) Jabari x Macey

The logical step from here is to add more females to each harem, with Jabari being at an age to start his own harem by the time they transfer. Perhaps another 12 females, there’s the potential for each male to have five females in their harem. Depending on exhibit capacity, breeding could then be regulated by allowing one female per harem to breed at a time (having two infants back to back). This would ensure a steady (but manageable) increase in numbers.

I'm hoping that developments at Monarto will encourage Auckland to retain their baboons, as there are possibilities for future transfers between the zoos. There's already a strong relationship built between Monarto and New Zealand zoos!

 

[Zorro]

I’m very excited to see what eventuates from Monarto’s plans to build a baboon exhibit. It will surely be built on a scale to accomodate a large troop:

The current plan is to build Monarto’s troop around Adelaide’s troop:

Harem 1:

1.0 Tomkay (2014) Horus x Chappi
0.1 Chappi (2003) Jarmah x Gina
0.1 Quasi (2017) Jabari x Qetesh
0.1 Lily (2022) Tomkay x Quasi
1.0 Jabari (2023) Tomkay x Quasi

Harem 2:

1.0 Djibouti (2016) Horus x Chappi
0.1 Mahali (2018) Jabari x Macey

The logical step from here is to add more females to each harem, with Jabari being at an age to start his own harem by the time they transfer. Perhaps another 12 females, there’s the potential for each male to have five females in their harem. Depending on exhibit capacity, breeding could then be regulated by allowing one female per harem to breed at a time (having two infants back to back). This would ensure a steady (but manageable) increase in numbers.

Going by other exhibits and projects at Monarto zoo any new Baboon exhibit is likely to be on the large size, Considering the climate there is so similar to their native habitat it would be a winner if they build a large rocky outcrop on a hill, whatever they do I am sure its going to be a interesting and worth while exhibit!

 

[Zoofan15]

Chappi (2003-2025)

Chappi has died at Adelaide Zoo, aged 22 years:

Farewell to Adelaide Zoo’s Beloved Baboon, Chappi - Adelaide Zoo

Chappi was born at Adelaide Zoo and produced five offspring, two of which survived to adulthood - Tomkay (2014) and Djibouti (2016). She is also survived by two grandchildren (sired by Tomkay) - Lily (2022) and Jabari (2023).

An interesting note that she was named in honour of a long time keeper, who refereed to the animals as ‘chaps’. I’d always assumed her name was Egyptian.

Chappi’s death has reduced the zoo’s to 3.3 baboons, with one adult female in each harem:

1.0 Tomkay (2014) Horus x Chappi
0.1 Quasi (2017) Jabari x Qetesh
0.1 Lily (2022) Tomkay x Quasi
1.0 Jabari (2023) Tomkay x Quasi

1.0 Djibouti (2016) Horus x Chappi
0.1 Mahali (2018) Jabari x Macey

Needless to say, new females would be advantageous; but due the struggles to build a cohesive troop, it may not happen anytime soon if the harems can remain stable following Chappi’s passing. The maturation of Jabari in 3-4 years will certainly prove the catalyst for change, with Monarto’s exhibit hopefully close to completion by that point.

 

[Zoofan15]

Update - Auckland Zoo Hamadryas Baboon Infant

While speaking with a primate keeper today outside the orangutan habitat, besides talking to her about the topic of orangutans I was also able to learn a little more about the new baboon infant born to first-time mother Iniko. The keeper was able to confirm that the new arrival is a male, and may possibly be named Raffi, although this name hasn't received an official sanction yet.

1.0 Unnamed, possibly Raffi, Badi x Iniko

Baboon infant named (Auckland Zoo):

I can confirm that Auckland Zoo’s Hamadryas baboon infant has indeed been named ‘Rafi’, which is an Arabic name meaning ‘noble’.

1.0 Rafi (2025) Badi x Iniko

The weather was (briefly) dry yesterday, so the baboons were outside and foraging and I got a clear picture (literally) of the harems. Wasaro and his female (Ayisha) were in the spot occupied by Badi and his harem (see photo below). They moved as they approached.

Jabari (far right) is three years old and will likely become a follower/satellite male of this harem until he has the opportunity to secure his own females. Badi previously fulfilled this role himself within his father’s harem as an adolescent/young adult male, before acquiring Yafeu’s females upon his unexpected death in 2021.

Badi’s harem:



1.0 Badi (2012) Afar x Kito
0.1 Zala (2013) Wasaro x Ayisha
0.1 Mali (2015) Wasaro x Ayisha
0.1 Iniko (2020) Yafeu x Mali
1.0 Jabari (2022) Badi x Mali
1.0 Rafi (2025) Badi x Iniko

 

[Zoofan15]

Auckland Zoo Update

Update from my visit (31/10/2025):

The male infant Rafi is thriving and has lost his dark fur covering seen on newborn Hamadryas baboons. He’s becoming increasingly mobile and has started venturing away from his mother for brief periods. Despite her young age and inexperience, Iniko is an attentive mother; and I also observed Mali (grandmother) and Zala (great-aunt) pick him up at one point. Three year old Jabari shows less interest in Rafi now (his curiosity at seeing a newborn for the first time was previously through the roof). I saw a brief interaction; but for the most part, Jabari left him to do his own thing.

Auckland’s troop has one of the healthiest cultures I’ve seen in any troop of this species. There’s zero conflict between the three adult males, each of which hold a harem, with the harem leaders respecting each other’s space. The young male Jabari is full of energy, typical of a male his age; but finds outlets in both the enriching exhibit and the interactions he has with the adults in the troop. The infant as noted above, is doted on by multiple adult females; and is the fourth generation of his family living within the troop, testament to the long lives of his maternal great-grandparents (Wasaro and Ayisha, aged 20 and 24 years respectively).

The keeper I spoke to advised no additional females are off contraception. Since Rafi was unplanned, it’ll be interesting to see if Iniko is allowed to have another infant, which could be born as soon as the second half of next year.

Three generations (Mali, Iniko and Rafi):



Afar’s harem (Afar, Kito and Naeemah):