Baboons are known for their intelligence, social behavior, and complex communication systems. These primates are often observed using tools, cooperating to solve problems, and even displaying empathy towards members of their group. However, recent studies have shown that baboons may also behave altruistically towards members of other species, including humans. This behavior sometimes involves ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋɪɴɢ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴏᴜs predators, such as crocodiles, to rescue humans in ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ.
Craig Beal captured this incredible scene during a tour of the Kwando Lebala reserve in Bwabwata National Park, Botswana.
Specifically, while drinking water with his fellow humans at a river, a crocodile dragged an unlucky baboon into the water. Aᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋᴇᴅ by surprise, the baboons ꜰᴏᴜɢʜᴛ back fiercely and tried to pull the crocodile close to the shore.
At the same time, the baboons standing on the shore rushed to ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋ the swamp ᴋɪʟʟᴇʀ to rescue their fellows. After a few minutes of struggle, the crocodile had to accept to let go of the prey. Losing a piece of food in his mouth, the crocodile had to turn his head and leave.
Baboons (Cercopithecidae) are a family of five monkeys living in Asia and Africa. They have a large head and a long, dog-like muzzle. Baboons move on all four limbs. They have a weight of 14-40 kg and a body length of 45 to 70 cm.
Extremely intelligent and highly social, baboons live and move in packs. They communicate with each other by chirping. With large teeth and muscular limbs, baboons are a formidable opponent for most animals of their size.
Humans and baboons share overlapping habitats in some regions, which can lead to ᴄᴏɴꜰʟɪᴄᴛ. For example, baboons may ʀᴀɪᴅ crops or scavenge in urban areas, leading to ɴᴇɢᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ interactions with humans. In some cases, this ᴄᴏɴꜰʟɪᴄᴛcan escalate to ᴠɪᴏʟᴇɴᴄᴇ, and baboons may ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛᴇɴ or ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋ humans.
However, recent reports suggest that baboons may also protect humans from ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ. In one notable case from 2019, a group of baboons in Zimbabwe reportedly ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋᴇᴅ a crocodile ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋɪɴɢ a child who had been playing near a river. According to witnesses, the baboons used their strength and teeth to pry the crocodile’s jaws open and rescue the child, who suffered only minor ɪɴᴊᴜʀɪᴇs.
In the case of the Zimbabwean baboons, it is unclear whether they were acting out of a sense of altruism towards the child or simply responding to the ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛ posed by the crocodile. However, the incident highlights the complex social behavior and cognitive abilities of baboons and their potential to act as protectors of humans in certain situations.
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