NATIVE BABOONS OF TAIF

SPECIAL THANKS to my friend Mariette Raubenheimer for the use of her wonderful baboon photos in today's post.   

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MOUNTAINS & SKIES OF AL SOUDAH IN ABHA

DREAMLIKE EXPERIENCE - AL SOUDAH, ABHA REGION

NATIVE BABOONS THRIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS

MISTY MOUNTAINS 

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THANKFUL THURSDAY

A big Thank You to my friend, tour guide Mohammed at Najran Tours, for allowing me to showcase these photos for today's post.  Visit him on Instagram - @NajranTours

https://www.instagram.com/najrantours/

https://www.facebook.com/najran.tours/

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SCENES FROM TAIF

RAMADAN BANNERS AND FESTIVE LIGHTS

TAIF IS FAMOUS FOR ITS PINK ROSES & THE ROSE WATER MADE FROM THEM

FAMILY OF NATIVE BABOONS

TAIF IS A FERTILE REGION YIELDING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE

MINARET SEEN THROUGH RAMADAN BANNERS

Special Thanks to KERRY MILLS and to NAJRAN TOURS for the use of their photos in today's post.  

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WEEKEND ROUND-UP - LETTER "M"

 

STARTS WITH "M" - MOSQUE AND MINARET START WITH "M"

A FAVORITE - BABOONS ARE PART OF THE OLD WORLD "MONKEYS."

THEY ARE NATIVE TO THIS PART OF THE WORLD.

"MULTI" JUNK FOOD RESTAURANTS WITH A MEN'S GYM ABOVE

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FRIDAY BLISS

WEEKEND ROUND-UP - "C"

STARTS WITH "C" - CORN

ROADSIDE VENDORS HERE OFFER ROASTED CORN AND TEA

A FAVORITE - COMMUNITY

BABOON FAMILIES, SENSE OF COMMUNITY

COLORFUL - WHAT'S MORE COLORFUL THAN A ROADSIDE FRUIT STAND?

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THE PHOTOS IN TODAY'S POST WERE TAKEN BY MY FRIEND MARIETTE RAUBENHEIMER. THANKS TO MARIETTE FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE THEM.

BABOONS IN TAIF, SAUDI ARABIA

BABOON FAMILY - AND BABY MAKE THREE

PROTECTIVE MADONNA AND CHILD

BABOON TEACHER AND STUDENTS

TODAY'S WONDERFUL BABOON PHOTOS WERE TAKEN BY MY FRIEND MARIETTE RAUBENHEIMER.  THANK YOU, MARIETTE, FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE THEM HERE.  

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Saudi Arabia: Baboon Habitat

The native Hamadryas Baboon of Saudi Arabia resides in the mountainous areas, mostly in the southern and western regions of the country.  The below photo above shows an area between Medina and Jeddah where the baboons typically live.

I was shocked when we were driving by on the highway and saw a busload of religious pilgrims hand feeding the baboons fruit and taking photos.  The baboons are wild animals and can be very aggressive, especially when food is involved. 

The closer they came to our vehicle, the higher up our windows went!  We weren't taking any chances with the unpredictable creatures.

I'm sure the tourists got some great photos, but it was at great risk of harm to themselves, one we weren't willing to take!

Saudi Arabia - Mama and Baby Baboons

The baby baboons of Saudi Arabia are adorable and are carried around by their mothers.  The photo above shows a baby riding on his mam's back, while the baby in the photo below can be seen peeking out as it clings to mama's underbelly.  

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.