Baboons of Saudi Arabia

The Hamadryas Baboon is native to Saudi Arabia and Yemen and some parts of Africa.  They live and thrive in the moutainous areas of the country.  Sometimes called the "sacred baboon," these baboons were revered by the ancient Egyptians and were an important part of ancient Egyptian religion.

The males are quite distinctive looking, with a long silvery mane and cape of hair that they keep neatly combed.  Females lack the silvery cape and are just covered in brown fur.  Another distinct feature of the Hamadryas Baboon is a large hairless area that is bright pink or red on their backsides where they sit. 

In today's modern world, however, these baboons can be a nuisance and a danger to people and agriculture here in this region.  They have attacked school children, spread disease, and have destroyed farms and crops.  The baboons travel in large packs, and while they appear to be cute and people love to photograph them, they are wild animals that can become aggressive.