Comparative Christmas Vacation I

As part of the Comparative Analysis of Baboon Sociality Project (CABS), the research assistants and I were more than a little thrilled to do a small tour of the species involved in the CABS project over the holidays. Our trip began with geladas in the Simiens Mountains National Park in Northern Ethiopia:

I was last in the Simiens conducting my PhD research with the University of Michigan Gelada Research Project. I hadn’t been back since 2010, but it was still the same old Simiens in many ways.

The views are just as breathtaking:

 

The geladas are just as welcoming:

 

And the University of Michigan Gelada Project crew is just as fun:

We even had one of our old scouts Zewedu accompany us while we were there!

This time, however, I truly was a tourist in my old stomping grounds. I brought the 3 assistants from both baboon sites, the idea being they could see the other species and experience the unique system that is the Simien Mountains.

We were graciously hosted by the current Gelada Project grad student, my good friend Elizabeth Johnson.

Elizabeth, along with the project assistants Eshete, Ambaye and Setey, happily showed us around and gave us all the updates on the geladas and the park.

All of the CABS ladies enjoyed the change of scenery and the new perspective on baboon behavior that comes from watching this closely related species.

Laura

Sam

Megan

All three with the geladas

We stayed at gelada camp, a cozy little hut at Sankaber camp in the park.

Each morning we went out in search of Elizabeth's target animals. We began each morning at the geladas' favorite sleeping site - they sleep down the cliffs to avoid predators such as leopards.

Eventually the geladas will climb up over the cliff in search of their primary food, grass (which they eat by the handful for most of the day). 

We then followed the geladas across the day as they moved along the plateau eating and socializing.

One of my old favorite females from my gelada days, Vampire, was about to pop when we got there.  And while all geladas at this time of year are quite round, Vampire was probably the largest female gelada I have ever seen at this point in her pregnancy.

Lucky for us, she gave birth on our last day there and we were able to meet her new daughter.

For Christmas we were joined by Tara and Levi (not pictured), the current gelada project camp managers. Tara’s family was also visiting for the holidays and spoiled us with a delicious Christmas dinner. The whole CABS crew in their Christmas presents: 

Thanks so much to the Gelada Project for hosting us! 

Next stop: Filoha.