Skip to main content
Global Animal Guide

What Do Olive Baboons Eat?

Olive baboon troop on savanna

Quick answer

Olive Baboons feed on grasses, seeds, insects, small mammals, and crops, adjusting with season, age, and what is abundant in Savannas, woodlands, and rocky hills of equatorial Africa. That label is a preferred pattern, not every item an individual might sample.

By , Founder Last reviewed Cite this page How we research & review

Key takeaway

Olive Baboons feed on grasses, seeds, insects, small mammals, and crops, adjusting with season, age, and what is abundant in Savannas, woodlands, and rocky hills of equatorial Africa. That label is a preferred pattern, not every item an individual might sample.

Olive Baboon diet overview

Olive Baboons (Papio anubis) are best summarised as Omnivore — grasses, seeds, insects, small mammals, and crops. Anatomy and habitat (Savannas, woodlands, and rocky hills of equatorial Africa) decide whether they hunt, graze, filter, scavenge, or mix strategies across the year.

How olive baboons find food

Energy-rich foods are prioritised when available; lean seasons force broader diets or longer travel. Young animals may eat different items or receive food from parents.

Olive Baboon role in the food web

As consumers in their food web, olive baboons move nutrients and influence prey or vegetation.

Feeding and human conflict

Never feed wild olive baboons. Habituation raises injury risk and can lead to lethal management. Captive diets must match species needs, not generic pet food rules.

Distribution and habitat

Olive Baboons live in Olive baboon across equatorial Africa from Mali and Ethiopia to Tanzania and northern South Africa in savanna and woodland. Preferred habitat includes savannas, woodlands, and rocky hills of equatorial africa. Across Africa, population density reflects prey availability, water access, and human disturbance. Protected areas and wildlife corridors remain essential for long-term persistence.

Physical traits and behaviour

Olive Baboons typically reach about 1.1 m in length and 30 kg in weight, with top speeds near 45 km/h. Africa's adaptable monkey. Daily activity, social structure, and seasonal movements reflect pressures in their native environment.

Sources

Olive Baboon FAQs

What do olive baboons eat?

Olive Baboons feed on grasses, seeds, insects, small mammals, and crops, adjusting with season, age, and what is abundant in Savannas, woodlands, and rocky hills of equatorial Africa. That label is a preferred pattern, not every item an individual might sample.

What is the scientific name of the olive baboon?

Papio anubis — used in research and conservation listings for olive baboons.

Where do olive baboons live?

They are associated with Savannas, woodlands, and rocky hills of equatorial Africa. Local presence depends on food, cover, and human land use.

What is the conservation status of olive baboons?

Listed in our guides as Least Concern. Check the IUCN Red List and national assessments for the latest formal category.

Keep exploring the Olive Baboon