| Primates are a category of mammals that | | | | occasionally insects and flowers.The vervet |
| include humans, apes, lemurs and monkeys. | | | | monkey is light coloured with a black face; |
| Covering over 185 species, they range from | | | | males have a pale blue scrotum. This monkey |
| lemurs -with hardly any resemblance to | | | | weighs between 5 and 9kg. The vervet is |
| humans- to chimpanzees, which are clearly our | | | | adapted to practically all woodland habitats, |
| own kin. In size, they range from the tiny 60 | | | | outside equatorial rain forests. It does not |
| g bush baby to the huge 200 kg gorilla. | | | | venture very far from the safety of trees, on |
| Primates are characterized by a complex | | | | which it also depends for food. You will |
| brain, good binocular vision and means of | | | | commonly find it on forest edges and is |
| grasping. In addition, they experience long | | | | typically associated with riverine vegetation |
| periods in the womb, followed by slow | | | | and acacia trees. These monkeys are very |
| maturation and elongated lifespan.Africa has | | | | friendly to people and almost serve as de |
| the privilege of hosting 51 primate species | | | | facto receptionists in most national |
| in habitats varying from forests to savannah | | | | parks.When a vertet hops onto your car as you |
| woodlands. And new primate species are still | | | | arrive at park gate, it is looking after its |
| being discovered. One of the latest additions | | | | own interests. Humans like to feed monkeys |
| is the highland mangabey monkey, whose | | | | and it hopes to save the lots of energy and |
| domicile is the Udzungwa Mountains of | | | | the risk involved in natural foraging in the |
| southern Tanzania.Scientists were delighted, | | | | bush. However, it is illegal to feed monkeys |
| but nevertheless puzzled when they reported | | | | or any wildlife in all parks in East Africa. |
| the finding in May 2005; "This exciting | | | | Also be warned- these monkeys can bite if |
| discovery demonstrates once again how little | | | | scared. Their teeth and claws can inflict |
| we know about our closest living relatives, | | | | serious injuries and you should therefore |
| the nonhuman primates. A large, striking | | | | avoid close bodily contact.Vervet monkeys are |
| monkey in a country of considerable wildlife | | | | omnivorous and consume a wide range of plant |
| research over the last century has been | | | | materials like fruits, seeds, sap, and |
| hidden right under our noses," said Russell | | | | flowers. They also feed on invertebrates and |
| Mittermeier of the IUCN-The World | | | | have sometimes balance the vegetarian fare |
| Conservation Union's Species Survival | | | | with vertebrates such as lizards and nestling |
| Commission.Sensing our fascination with | | | | birds and their eggs. They are often found in |
| nonhuman primates, artists have in response | | | | the same areas as baboons with which they |
| created fictional characters that have turned | | | | share many foods, water holes and sleeping |
| out to be immensely popular. The most | | | | trees. The baboon is however not good company |
| successful of this genre is the story of | | | | for vervets; it is without mercy for its |
| "Tarzan of the Apes". This romance features | | | | smaller relative. When they compete for food, |
| an orphaned English lord who was adopted by a | | | | vervets are supplanted and baboons will |
| female ape and brought up in the African | | | | occasionally feed on young vervets.Vervet |
| jungle. The writer Edgar Rice Burroughs | | | | monkeys are territorial and live in troops of |
| brought Tarzan-one of the best-known literary | | | | between 8-50 members. Their troops are |
| characters, to life in 1921.Tarzan, an | | | | organized in a hierarchy of families whose |
| ape-man character has over the years | | | | members sleep, forage and rest together. |
| generated over 40 movies, and numerous radio | | | | Males move out as they reach maturity at |
| shows, television programmes and comic books. | | | | about the age of 5 years, while females |
| Primate characters reflect mans complex | | | | remain in a female-bonded society. They pass |
| nature more closely than other animal | | | | on hereditary privileges: a mother's rank |
| characters in fiction and mythology. Come to | | | | predetermines that of the daughter.The baboon |
| think of it: in this respect, the naughty | | | | is the other very common primate in the |
| tree-swinging monkey is more deserving of our | | | | savannahs of East Africa. It is a large, |
| respect than haughty king lion.Non-human | | | | terrestrial monkey with a dog like head. |
| primates are confined to the tropics, where | | | | Indeed its scientific name is, papio |
| 80% of them live in rain forests as the | | | | cynocephalus -here cynocephalus means |
| dominant mammals. East Africa has few patches | | | | "dog-headed." They weigh up to 50 kg, with |
| of tropical forests where you find the great | | | | males reaching up to twice the weight of |
| apes, but the entire region supports many | | | | females. Their limbs are sturdy, nearly equal |
| other primate species. Only a few species are | | | | in length while hands and feet are short and |
| not dependent on trees and can survive in | | | | wide with stubby digits. The females have |
| savannah and sub desert areas. These include | | | | very prominent sexual swellings.Baboons in |
| baboons, vervet monkeys and chimpanzees. Not | | | | East Africa appear in two common species - |
| surprisingly, travellers to east Africa are | | | | olive and yellow baboons. Next to humans, |
| most likely to come across these three | | | | baboons are the best adapted of the |
| species.But most primates still depend on | | | | terrestrial primates. For this reason, they |
| trees or cliffs for security. Only the two | | | | are the most widespread African primate- to |
| most intriguing primate species sleep on the | | | | be found from savannah to arid habitats, so |
| ground-man and gorilla. We shall not discuss | | | | long as there is water and trees or just |
| these two species in this article and shall | | | | cliffs. Most travellers will see baboons on |
| cover them in separate features. For now, we | | | | the highways, in many places across the |
| shall only able to look at the four most | | | | region. They live well enough outside |
| common primates found in East Africa; bush | | | | protected areas, such as national parks. They |
| babies, monkeys, baboons and | | | | are serious crop pests and are even |
| chimpanzees.Primates have complex social | | | | classified as vermin -not wildlife- but in |
| organizations and the majority live in | | | | parts of Kenya.A baboons' menu include |
| female-bonded groups. Scientists speculate | | | | grasses, flowers, fruits, seeds and shoots. |
| that this works as an alliance against | | | | In the dry season, they uproot grasses and |
| aggressive males. Females stay on in their | | | | feed on the underground stems, a niche they |
| natal group even after maturity, while males | | | | share with no other mammal except warthogs. |
| exit the group. Feminist fundamentalists may | | | | Beware that baboons are fierce fighters and |
| perhaps take a hint in this arrangement? | | | | with group work can confront and scare off a |
| Chimpanzees make an exception to this rule. | | | | sharp predator such as leopard. Because of |
| Very much like humans, female chimps seek an | | | | their well-developed taste for fruits and |
| alliance with a male protector, which is | | | | other foods humans are partial to, baboons |
| recognised and respected by other males.A | | | | tend to stalk visitors in national parks. In |
| common feature among primates is evolution of | | | | some cases they supplement their diet with |
| the "primate hand."This is a prehensile hand | | | | vertebrate prey: fish, lizards and young of |
| that is used for climbing and eating, and | | | | ground nesting birds, and bird or crocodile |
| tool making in the case of apes. Some | | | | eggs.Baboons live in troops ranging from 8 to |
| primates- especially baboons and apes, have | | | | over 200 animals, but typically average about |
| such well-developed dexterity of the hand | | | | 40. Troops tend to avoid one another but may |
| that the tips of the thumb and forefinger | | | | occasionally share resources. Their social |
| meet at right angles. In apes, the dexterity | | | | organization is highly complex and variable; |
| of the hands is very close that of humans | | | | they are able to display emotion and can |
| -and chimps are a good example.Primates, just | | | | communicate motivation. Females remain in the |
| like humans, use social grooming as a form of | | | | troop, with a reproductive strategy grounded |
| contact communication. Travellers will | | | | on male supremacy.The colobus monkey is |
| witness this practice among baboons and | | | | another common primate that is the subject of |
| vervet monkeys. Grooming is useful for social | | | | many parables in Africa. The black and white |
| bonding and is effected by use of the mouth | | | | colobus are especially priced for their |
| and hands. At a more practical level, it is | | | | beautiful coat, which has traditionally been |
| also used to clean the body of parasites, | | | | used as ceremonial attire. The colobus is |
| such as ticks. Grooming underlines | | | | found only in Africa and has a long tail and |
| hierarchies; a junior member of a group will | | | | hairs. The body weight reaches up to 23 kg. |
| happily groom its betters.Reproduction in | | | | Both the black and white species are well |
| primates is quite varied, but there is much | | | | adapted and have inherited many kinds of |
| in common with humans. Monkeys and apes, for | | | | forest woodlands throughout East Africa. They |
| example, actually do menstruate. A key | | | | live up at the trees and rarely descend to |
| difference however, is that many primates | | | | the ground. This rather shy animal is not |
| have distinct breeding seasons. The young are | | | | easily sighted in the open and you are more |
| dependent on the mother, but less so than | | | | likely to see or hear them in thick woodlands |
| human infants. They enjoy the protection of a | | | | and forested parks.The apes are a category of |
| fur coat and are able to climb and reach the | | | | primates represented in Africa by gorilla, |
| mothers' teats and cling to her while being | | | | chimpanzees and bonobo. Genetically, they are |
| transported. Males generally play a marginal | | | | the closest primates to man. The apes have |
| role in parental care.Bush babies are a big | | | | very advanced social and communication |
| group of primates, comprising about 18 | | | | systems. They come close to humans in the use |
| species found Africa, and of which 11 species | | | | of facial expressions and body language; |
| live in East Africa. This is one of the | | | | using both arms and hands. Apart from |
| smallest but most successful of the primates. | | | | mother-infant contact, apes groom each other |
| There are two main types: the lesser bush | | | | in the usual primate fashion- rank determines |
| baby and the greater bush baby. Both are | | | | who grooms whom.Apes are particularly adept |
| widely distributed and found in the forested | | | | at tactile communications; that is use of |
| national parks of East Africa. During the | | | | touch. They seek and give reassurance by |
| day, they hide to avoid harm from eagles and | | | | touching each other - just like we do -on the |
| large snakes.In lodges located close to dense | | | | most sensitive areas like hands, face and |
| forest, such as Shimba Hills in Kenya, bush | | | | genitals. Apes are slow to mature, with the |
| babies are at night attracted to the dining | | | | young reaching adolescence at about the age |
| rooms by sugar and sugary products. They | | | | of 8 years. Females bring |
| otherwise feed mainly on tree gum and | | | | |
| insects. Their technique of catching insects | | | | forth their first fruits in their early |
| is either by leaping and grabbing or by | | | | teens, much earlier than males who rarely |
| creeping to within grabbing distance. They | | | | start procreating before reaching 15 years. |
| have distinct vocal sounds and the name bush | | | | All apes build nests- in this case, a |
| baby originated from the piercing baby-like | | | | platform on which to sleep securely at night: |
| cries or advertising calls of the greater | | | | chimps up the trees and gorillas on the |
| bush baby. Adult males advertise the most, | | | | ground.Generally all the apes are endangered |
| especially in the mating season.Bush babies | | | | and vulnerable. The problem is that they |
| are easy to like-perhaps on account of their | | | | occur naturally in very small densities and |
| baby-like cries and small innocent looking | | | | face immediate threat of habitat loss |
| faces. They are active only after sundown. | | | | throughout their ranges. The situation is |
| Extremely agile and sprightly, they use their | | | | further compounded by the fact that they |
| elongated hind limbs to execute spectacular | | | | perpetuate themselves at a rather slow pace. |
| leaps between trees. Distended finger and toe | | | | The other risk is the bush meat trade that |
| pads enable them to cling unerringly, leap | | | | goes on in some parts of Africa, which takes |
| after leap, to even the most slippery | | | | them out in large numbers every year. The |
| branches.The other small primates like bush | | | | situation deteriorated after the 1980's, when |
| babies are pottos. Being small and nocturnal, | | | | many previously inaccessible tracts of |
| you will hardly ever see them. Only one | | | | rainforest were opened up for |
| species is found in East Africa -in south and | | | | logging.Although apes are not known to eat |
| west Uganda, far northwest Tanzania and | | | | humans, there are reports of their killing |
| western Kenya in the Mount Elgon and Kakamega | | | | human babies in western Uganda - especially |
| forests. Pottos wear a woolly brown jacket | | | | in Bwindi and Kibale forests. This phenomenon |
| and have large protuberant eyes, small | | | | is as yet unexplained and is very puzzling to |
| rounded naked ears, short muzzles and short | | | | primate researchersChimpanzees are large, |
| stubby tails. They weigh between 0.8 - | | | | hairy and tailless; females weigh between |
| 1.6kg.Monkeys are a category of dog-shaped | | | | 30-40 kg, while males can reach 180 kg. They |
| primates. They stand and move horizontally on | | | | have big heads, flattened face with a small |
| four legs, with head directed forwards and | | | | nose and forward facing eyes. They have same |
| downwards. Consequently, the form and | | | | number and type of teeth as man. The chimp is |
| movement is also doglike, particularly for | | | | indeed our closet living relative, sharing |
| the more terrestrial ones like baboons. Their | | | | 98% of our genes and much of our behaviour. |
| bottoms are padded with bare "scars" that may | | | | The chimp and mountain gorilla are the only |
| appear like wounds. These are called | | | | great apes found naturally is East Africa. |
| callosities, and their colouration varies | | | | Seeing chimps in the wild is an exhilarating |
| with the reproductive season. The phenomenon | | | | experience. And Uganda is the best country in |
| is most prominent among baboons and is quite | | | | the world to view chimps in their natural |
| puzzling to many travellers.There is a clear | | | | habitat.In Uganda, you encounter chimps at |
| distinction in form and structure of the | | | | Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kibale and |
| genders in monkeys. This is especially so | | | | Budingo forest. In Tanzania, you see them at |
| among baboons, in which females are clearly | | | | Gombe National Park, to the north west of the |
| smaller in body size - by as much as 50% | | | | country. Kenya has no naturally occurring |
| compared males. The posture and movement of | | | | chimps population, but at Nanyuki in the |
| monkeys is often a reflection of their social | | | | central region, there is a sanctuary for |
| status. The confident monkey appears relaxed | | | | chimps rescued from the illegal trade going |
| and walks with its limbs extended and back | | | | on in parts of central and West Africa.Chimps |
| level. It surveys its realm casually and is | | | | are mainly found in rainforest and wet |
| at ease while resting. On the other hand, | | | | savannah. They are less robustly built than |
| subordinates walk with back hunched, limbs | | | | gorillas; their arms are shorter, reaching |
| rather bent and tail low or curved | | | | just below the knees and the hands and |
| downwards.Dominant males are known to | | | | fingers are long with short thumbs. The feet |
| exaggerate their status by walking with a | | | | are adapted for grasping, with long, stout |
| swagger and squatting with obvious | | | | opposable big toe. Chimpanzees feed mainly on |
| ostentation. This behaviour is the subject of | | | | fruits mostly gathered from trees and the |
| many metaphors in African folklore. Monkeys | | | | young leaves of plants. They also feed on |
| are generally social, though they exhibit | | | | flowers, pith, and bark and also derive |
| occasional rivalry. When attempting to | | | | additional nutrients from insects and some |
| intimidate a rival, a monkey stands at its | | | | meat too- young antelopes, goats, and other |
| tallest, with the effect that it looks bigger | | | | primates such as young baboons and colobus |
| than it realy is-, which of course is | | | | monkeys.Chimps are articulate tool users- a |
| precisely the point. "Filling yourself like a | | | | clear sign of a hard working brain. They can |
| male monkey" is a common teenage statement in | | | | pick up small objects between thumbs and side |
| Africa, and originates from this | | | | of the index finger. They possess the acumen |
| practice.Many travellers will have noticed | | | | to prepare and use grass stems and sticks to |
| that adult male monkeys like exposing their | | | | fish for insects. A female on heat may mate |
| genitals to impress or maybe intimidate other | | | | with several males. It gives birth to a |
| males. Baboons are especially notorious for | | | | single off spring, which is independent after |
| this rather unwholesome exhibitionist | | | | about 4 years.The chimps are individualistic |
| behaviour. Do not be offended when you find a | | | | and do not live in cohesive groups like |
| dominant male, sitting apart on high vantage | | | | gorillas or monkeys. They live in |
| point, facing away from the troop as he scans | | | | communities, with up to 100 animals sharing a |
| the surrounding with legs spread apart to | | | | common home range. But they never assemble in |
| expose the penis. This is a particularly | | | | a single troop. Jane Goodall, in her book |
| noticeable thing about baboons, or perhaps it | | | | "The Chimpanzees of Gombe", has shown that |
| is what humans cannot avoid noticing- being | | | | chimps, in common with humans, engage in some |
| so well trained to look down | | | | very disagreeable behaviour. Males |
| | | | occasionally rape females and engage in |
| upon such immodest displays. Among the | | | | internecine warfare. Dr. Goodall has reported |
| monkeys species found in East Africa are the | | | | that from early 1974, a brutal four-year war |
| blue or syke monkey, the vervet monkey and | | | | raged in Gombe between two chimp groups that |
| the colobus monkey.Sykes are dark, stoutly | | | | resulted in the decimation of one group.The |
| built and have round facial disk and no | | | | best way to see the primates of East Africa |
| beard. They weigh up to 12kg, with males | | | | is by taking a combined Kenya and Uganda |
| larger and heavier than females. The body is | | | | safari. On such as safari, you will of course |
| covered by thick long fur with a brown patch | | | | see the other wildlife East Africa is famed |
| of bristling hair. Sykes are quite widespread | | | | for, but be sure that the locations where |
| in East Africa and can generally be sighted | | | | primates are found are covered. On safari, |
| in all forested national parks. But as they | | | | wear light cottons and linen. But also pack |
| as not aware of park boundaries, you will | | | | some warmer clothing, as the evenings and |
| also see them in thick forests and forest | | | | early mornings can be quite chilly. Some |
| reserves outside the parks. They are however | | | | rainwear is advisable between March and June |
| slowly being confined to national parks due | | | | and October and December. You should bring |
| continuing degradation of protected forests. | | | | along a decent pair of sunglasses and a pair |
| Sykes mostly feed on fruits and leaves and | | | | of binoculars. |