Wild and Kind Kids Podcast

The Baboon

• Wild and Kind Kids

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0:00 | 22:06

On the sunlit savanna near Arusha, Tanzania, a troop of baboons is on the move … headed straight for a breakfast of juicy mangoes. But when they arrive, something is wrong. The mangoes are gone! 

All eyes turn to Bunky, the troop’s most mischievous member. But did he really take them? Or is there more to the story? With the help of an unlikely detective, Bunky sets out to clear his name and the entire troop learns an important lesson about teamwork, trust, and paying attention before jumping to conclusions.

Join Carie, Lincoln, and Eliza as they explore the social, chatty world of baboons, where communication, cooperation, and community are everything.

Kids will discover:

  • How baboons communicate using sounds, faces, and body language
  • Why baboons live in large groups called troops
  • How baboons are built for survival, from super big cheek pouches to bottoms that help them sit and patrol for hours 

Keep exploring:

Learn along with us and explore some of the resources we consulted:

SPEAKER_05

Hi everyone. Wild and kind kids is back. And today I've got a challenge for you. I want to know how you're feeling, but you are not allowed to use words. That's right. No talking. We're gonna see if you can communicate just using your body. Ready? Okay. So first, can you show me with no sound at all that you are mad? Ooh, I'm seeing some teeth, some claws. All right. I see some scrunched up faces. Now, show me that you are happy. Oh, I see some big smiles. How about hungry? I see some frowns. Somebody's rubbing their tummy over here. Okay, now I'm gonna level it up. You can make noise now, but you can't use words. Okay, show me scared. Okay, now how about cold? And how about silly? Alright, I see some tongues, some faces wiggling. Awesome! Well, today's animal, they can communicate all of that and more using their faces, their bodies, and their voices without ever saying a word. Let's get learning. I'm Carrie, and I grew up on a zoo.

SPEAKER_01

I'm Lincoln, I'm Eliza, and we're in the world about animals.

SPEAKER_05

Welcome to the Wild and Kind Kids Podcast. Hey Lincoln and Eliza.

SPEAKER_00

Hi, Mom!

SPEAKER_05

Y'all, it feels good to be podcasting again.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05

So today we are gonna be talking about a very cool animal from Africa. It's fluffy, it's vocal, it has perhaps one of the world's most famous bottoms. It is the baboon. And today's animal was a listener request from Benjamin, who also lives in North Carolina like us.

SPEAKER_02

Oh hi, Benjamin! Hey Benjamin, we also saw a baboon.

SPEAKER_05

That's right. So we got to go in a little outing to do a little research at a zoo, and we saw a real baboon that was kind of hanging out on a swing on a tree. Baboons are big, powerful monkeys, some of the largest monkeys in the whole world. Now, some are about the size of a big house cat, but others are as big as a large dog. They are what scientists call old world monkeys. That means they come from parts of the world like Africa and Asia instead of places like South America. One thing all old world monkeys have in common is they do not have a prehensile tail. Now you may remember if you listened to our Kinkajou episode that a prehensile tail is one that works like a little arm to grab things. Now, baboons live in Africa, mostly in savannah, but some live in tropical forests. And if you saw one, you would definitely notice a few things right away. They have really big heads with these very prominent eyebrow ridges, and their noses are long like the snout of a dog. They have super sharp teeth and strong arms and legs. And yes, let's just get this out of the way. They have naked bottoms. It's true. Their back ends are hairless, and it really stands out. Female baboons can even have bright red bottoms at certain times of the year. And scientists think those changes help them send signals to other baboons. There are five different kinds of baboons in the world, and all of them are awesome. Lincoln and Eliza, what else can you tell us about baboons?

SPEAKER_02

Baboons are amazing travelers. They can walk for miles and miles every single day.

SPEAKER_05

Yes, they use their strong arms and legs to walk and run. In fact, baboons spend a lot of time on the ground, much more than many other kinds of monkeys. They can climb, however, and they will often climb into trees or up to high rocky places to scan the horizon for trouble or to sleep. Because, you know, it's a lot safer to be off the ground. Okay, give me another fact, y'all.

SPEAKER_02

Baboons have built-in backpacks.

SPEAKER_05

They're in their cheeks. Yes. So baboons have these very large cheek pouches that stretch down their neck to store food. This allows them to quickly gather fruit or nuts, tuck them in their cheeks, and then eat them later. So if you're listening, let's puff out our cheeks. Now imagine they are stuffed with snacks. Pretty smart. For baboons, this helps them stay safe because they can grab food quickly and move somewhere safer to eat. And inside those cheek pouches, the food gets mixed with spit, kind of like our own saliva. And this spit helps them start breaking the food down, even before they chew it. Amazing. What else?

SPEAKER_02

This is kind of gross, but they have built-in seats on their bottom.

SPEAKER_05

Well, I don't actually think this is gross. I actually think this is really smart. So when most people think of a baboon, they think of those hairless bottoms, but they actually serve a very cool purpose. Those spots are thick, tough pads of skin, and they don't have as many sensitive nerve endings as the rest of their body. Nerves are like tiny message wires all through your body. They send messages to your brain to tell you what you feel. So when you touch something hot, your nerves send a super fast message that says, ouch, that's hot. Or when you sit on something hard, your nerves tell your brain, hey, that's not very comfy. But on a baboon sitting pads, there are fewer of those message wires. So their brain doesn't get as many ouch messages, which means they can sit for a really long time without feeling uncomfortable. Which is pretty handy when you spend a lot of your days sitting, watching, and hanging out. Okay, maybe one more fact.

SPEAKER_02

Baboons have lots of ways to talk, even without using words.

SPEAKER_05

Yes, baboons can make many different sounds, including barks, grunts, screams, and chatters. Scientists have found they can use 10 to 30 distinct vocalizations, each with a different meaning. Some sounds can warn others about danger, while others help them stay connected to their group. They also use body language like lip smacking, staring, or even shrugging their shoulders. Their faces, sounds, and movements all work together like a full body language system. Kind of like we practiced at the start. All right, do you all want to hear one? Anyone listening speak baboon? Because I think they're saying it's time for our story of the day. Today, we are taking a trip to the warm golden savannah near Arusha in Tanzania. On this morning, tall golden grasses sway in the savanna breeze. Umbrella-shaped trees stretch their knobby branches toward the sky. A slow, ambling giraffe reaches its neck high into the trees while zebras graze nearby. Far in the distance, a family of elephants plods slowly across the plain. Birds chatter and flutter, and for a moment, everything feels calm. Until a baboon troop is on the move. They travel together, shoulder to shoulder, babies clinging tight to their grown-ups, younger baboons darting and zigzagging through the group. Because at the edge of the savanna stands a village, and on the edge of that village stand three perfect mango trees. And the baboons know the mangoes are ripe. Plump, juicy, hanging so heavy they pull the branches low. And this baboon troop is hungry. Together, they move on long, loping limbs toward the village edge. They can almost taste the sweet golden fruit. As the troop draws closer, a large baboon at the front suddenly stops short. The mangoes they're gone. What? How could this be? Just yesterday the troop had scouted these very trees, and they were dripping with mangoes. But what could have happened? A murmur ripples through the troop. Suddenly, one of the oldest, most respected baboons steps forward. He lifts his chin. He narrows his eyes.

SPEAKER_03

I know what happened. Bunky took them.

SPEAKER_05

Suddenly, forty furry faces turn to look at a baboon near the back of the troop. Who, unfortunately, in this moment, because absolutely no one will believe him now, is standing upside down with a banana gripped in his foot, trying very hard to get a laugh from a younger baboon. Bunky slowly drops the banana and straightens up. Me, I didn't take any mangoes. The troupe is not so sure. You see, Bunky has a bit of a reputation.

SPEAKER_00

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_05

That's what you said last time. Very suspicious. Extremely suspicious. Just last week, Bunky tiptoed behind the most respected elders, copying their serious walks step for step. Until one of them turned around and found Bunky mid-strut and growled. He's been known to stack snacks on his head, mangoes, melons, once even a very confused Merecat, just to see how many things he can balance before everything falls. And once, the one and only time he was trusted to be line leader, he led the entire troop in a perfect circle, right back to where they started. On purpose. Bunky is a ham. A trickster, a professional goofball. And yes, he is quite often in trouble. Which is why forty furry faces are now staring at him. Not laughing, not this time. And Bunky suddenly feels very, very in trouble. The troop begins to turn away, back toward their favorite resting spot, without him.

SPEAKER_03

No mangoes, no breakfast. You can stay right here, Bunky.

SPEAKER_05

One by one, they move off, shoulder to shoulder, together, leaving Bunky behind. Bunky looks down at the dusty ground.

SPEAKER_02

I really didn't take them.

SPEAKER_05

And then he notices he is not alone. Sitting on a nearby rock, very still, is another baboon. Charlie. Charlie is not a prankster. She does not balance bananas on her feet. She does not lead troops in circles. Charlie watches. She listens, and she notices things. In fact, Charlie rather fancies herself a detective, even if she's never actually solved a case before. She tilts her head and looks at Bunky.

SPEAKER_02

I've got a feeling.

SPEAKER_05

She looks at the trees.

SPEAKER_02

I don't think you did it. What? Louder now, Charlie says, I don't think you did it. I think we have ourselves the case of the missing mangoes.

SPEAKER_05

Charlie wasted no time getting to work. Bunky wandered behind, a little confused, but eager to prove his innocence.

SPEAKER_02

Do I get a detective name? No, but you can follow along.

SPEAKER_05

Charlie crouches low to the ground.

SPEAKER_02

Clue number one. No mango peels. Bunky gasps. That is suspicious. I always leave peels.

SPEAKER_05

Charlie nods.

SPEAKER_02

Exactly. Do you think I'm being set up by a peel eating baboon who wants to steal my spotlight?

SPEAKER_05

Charlie blinks. No.

SPEAKER_02

Oh you think the mangoes were never here. Huh. Let the crews lead us. Maybe just follow along.

SPEAKER_05

She moves to the base of the tree, circles it slowly, eyes scanning. Bunky tries to copy her. He circles two, in the opposite direction. They bump right into each other.

SPEAKER_02

Focused.

SPEAKER_05

Charlie points to the trunk. Bunky runs his hands along the bark.

SPEAKER_02

If I climbed this, there would definitely be scratch marks.

SPEAKER_05

Charlie gives a small approving nod. Then she freezes. Bunky freezes too. On the ground nearby, they lean in close. Charlie squints.

SPEAKER_02

Nozel ours.

SPEAKER_05

Bunky leans back.

SPEAKER_02

Oh it's still helpful.

SPEAKER_05

Charlie almost smiles. Then she looks up. Bunky looks up at that same moment. High in the branches, something glints. Something shines. A scrap of mango skin. And just above it, a flurry of bright, busy birds, their beaks sticky with golden juice. The birds. Charlie smiles.

SPEAKER_02

The buds. Come on, we need to show the others.

SPEAKER_05

Bunky nods very seriously now. They find the troop gathered in the shade of a wide flat rock. No one is laughing. No one is playing. It is very quiet, and they all look very hungry. The oldest baboon looks up.

SPEAKER_04

Well, are you here to confess?

SPEAKER_02

No. But we have solved the case.

SPEAKER_05

A murmur ripples through the troop. Charlie turns and points back toward the trees.

SPEAKER_02

There are no peels on the ground. No scratch box under chunks up in the branches.

SPEAKER_05

Right on cue, a swirl of bright birds lifts into the air. Beaks sticky, bits of mango skin still clinging to their feathers. The troop gasps. The birds The oldest baboon clears his throat.

SPEAKER_04

Bunky, old friend. It seems we may have been mistaken.

SPEAKER_05

One by one, baboons shuffle closer. Sorry, Bunky. We blamed you too fast. Way too fast. Bunky blinks, then shrugs and grins. It's okay.

SPEAKER_02

But next time, maybe we investigate first.

SPEAKER_05

A few baboons chuckle. The troop opens up around him, making space, putting him right back where he belongs. Shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the baboons. And Charlie Charlie sits back on her rock, quiet, still watching. Bunky catches her eye and walks over to plop down beside her.

SPEAKER_02

So, assistant detective Bunky?

SPEAKER_05

Charlie considers this. We'll discuss it. Case closed. Alright, friends. Like always, our story has a real science connection. Baboons really do live in groups called troops. And these troops can be pretty big. Sometimes dozens or even hundreds of baboons, all living, traveling, and eating together. That makes them firmly part of Squad Gull's society. Yes. Now, inside a troop, there's something called a social order. That's just a fancy way of saying some baboons have higher status and some have lower status. The higher status baboons often get the first pick of food, have the best resting spots, and they're listened to more by the group. It's a little like how in our story that deep voiced baboon spoke and everyone paid attention. But here's something really important. Even though there is a social order, baboons don't have just one boss telling everyone what to do all the time. Instead, they move together as a group, watch each other closely, and they often follow behind the baboons who seem the most confident or experienced. They also spend a lot of time doing something called grooming. It means they pick through each other's fur to help keep it clean. But it is not just about hygiene. It's also how they build friendships, show trust, and stay connected. So in real life, just like in our story, being part of the baboon troop means you rely on each other, you pay attention to each other, and what one baboon does can affect the whole troupe. Before we go, it's time for your Lowing Con mission. Today's mission is all about being a respectful neighbor to animals, like baboons. You see, in places like Tanzania, baboons sometimes live near villages. And when food is easy to grab, like fruit from trees or snacks left out, they might come closer than they should. And that can be dangerous for people and for baboons. So here's your mission.

SPEAKER_02

Be kind to the wild.

SPEAKER_05

Yes, your job is to help keep animals wild. You should never feed wild animals, even if they look super cute or hungry. And you should always keep your snacks and trash put away so animals don't get used to human food. And you should give animals space and watch them from a safe distance. And even though you might live far away from baboons, these same rules help protect animals everywhere. Because when we respect wild animals, we help them stay wild and safe and who they are meant to be. Yes. And thanks, as always, for being with us today. See you next time, everyone. This podcast is produced by John, also known as Lincoln and Eliza's Dad. If you're enjoying these adventures, please subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Leave us a review and tell your friends. Check out the show notes to find a coloring sheet for today's creature. And explore more episodes at wildandkindkids.com. To show us your coloring sheet or request an animal for a future story, contact us at wildkindkidspod at gmail.com. You can also find us on Instagram at Wild and Kind Kids Pod. Thanks for exploring with us, friends. Until next time.

SPEAKER_02

Keep your hearts kind and your curiosity wild.