EAZA Best Practice Guidelines Gelada baboon (Theropithecus gelada) Editors: Achim Johann, Nicolas Brüning Contact: NaturZoo Rheine, Salinenstraße 150, 48432 Rheine, Germany Under the remit of the Gelada baboon EEP (EEP coordinator: Achim Johann) and the EAZA Afro-Eurasian Monkey TAG (TAG Chair: Tjerk ter Meulen, Artis Amsterdam) First edition – 2021 Content EAZA Best Practice Guidelines disclaimer ............................................................................................... 5 Preamble ................................................................................................................................................. 5 Gelada baboon EEP ................................................................................................................................. 6 Species Committee (2020) ...................................................................................................................... 6 EAZA Afro-Eurasian Monkey Taxon Advisory Group (2020) ................................................................... 6 Contributing Authors ............................................................................................................................... 7 Section 1 Biology and Field Data ............................................................................................................. 9 A. Taxonomy and Distribution ......................................................................................................... 9 B. Morphology ............................................................................................................................... 10 C. Physiology .................................................................................................................................. 12 D. Longevity ................................................................................................................................... 13 E. Zoogeography, Conservation and Ecology ................................................................................ 14 Habitat & Ecology .................................................................................................................. 14 Population ............................................................................................................................. 14 Conservation Status............................................................................................................... 15 F. Diet and Feeding Behaviour ...................................................................................................... 16 G. Reproduction ............................................................................................................................. 17 1. Sexual maturity ...................................................................................................................... 17 2. Reproductive cycle of females .............................................................................................. 17 3. Seasonality ............................................................................................................................. 18 4. Gestation period .................................................................................................................... 18 5. Development ......................................................................................................................... 19 H. Behaviour .................................................................................................................................. 20 1. Activity ................................................................................................................................... 20 2. Locomotion ............................................................................................................................ 20 3. Predation ............................................................................................................................... 20 4. Social behaviour .................................................................................................................... 21 5. Sexual behaviour ................................................................................................................... 23 Section 2 Management in Zoos ............................................................................................................. 24 I. Enclosure ................................................................................................................................... 25 1. Boundary ............................................................................................................................... 25 2. Substrate ............................................................................................................................... 30 3. Furnishing and Maintenance ................................................................................................. 30 4. Environment .......................................................................................................................... 33 5. Dimensions ............................................................................................................................ 33 2 J. Feeding ...................................................................................................................................... 36 1. Basic Diet ............................................................................................................................... 36 2. Special Dietary Requirements ............................................................................................... 39 3. Method of Feeding ................................................................................................................ 39 4. Water ..................................................................................................................................... 41 K. Social Structure and Group-management ................................................................................. 42 1. Basic Social Structure ............................................................................................................ 42 2. Harem Group ......................................................................................................................... 42 3. Bachelor (All-male) Group ..................................................................................................... 43 L. Breeding .................................................................................................................................... 45 1. Mating ................................................................................................................................... 45 2. Pregnancy .............................................................................................................................. 46 3. Birth ....................................................................................................................................... 46 4. Development and Care of Young .......................................................................................... 47 5. Kidnapping ............................................................................................................................. 47 6. Infanticide .............................................................................................................................. 48 7. Hand-Rearing ......................................................................................................................... 50 M. Population Management Methods ....................................................................................... 51 1. Castration .............................................................................................................................. 51 2. Contraception ........................................................................................................................ 53 3. Vasectomy ............................................................................................................................. 54 4. Separating Sexes .................................................................................................................... 54 5. Culling .................................................................................................................................... 54 N. Animal Welfare & Behavioural Enrichment .............................................................................. 55 1. Mixed Species Enclosures ...................................................................................................... 61 2. Training .................................................................................................................................. 65 O. Handling..................................................................................................................................... 73 1. Individual Identification ......................................................................................................... 73 2. Catching / Restraining ........................................................................................................... 75 3. Transportation ....................................................................................................................... 75 4. Safety ....................................................................................................................................