Gelada

Theropithecus gelada

Geladas live in social groups, known as harems, which are led by a single male. The females, however, are free to choose which group they join.

Red List

Least Concern

Breeding programme

A striking feature of the Gelada is the hairless patch on its chest. In males, this patch is hourglass-shaped and has a bright red colour. This is why the Gelada is also known as the ‘blood-chested baboon’ in German.

During the female’s reproductive cycle, the colour of her chest area changes to varying degrees, usually becoming more reddish. A row of warts, varying in prominence, develops at the edge of the hairless chest region. These changes signal to the male that the female is ready to mate.

The harem forms the social unit. Males remain harem leaders for an average of three to five years, until they are ousted by another, usually stronger, male. However, the new leader needs to gain the acceptance of the older females.

Although the harem leader keeps an eye on the whole group, he cannot decide which females join him or stay with him, and which females leave his harem to join another group. Unwanted males are driven away by the females.

Taxonomy

Monkey relatives (Cercopithecidae), genus Theropithecus

Habitat

mountainous grasslands at altitudes of 1,800 to 4,400 metres above sea level

Behaviour and ecology

ground-dwelling, diurnal; sleep in rock crevices; not territorial

Social structure

Harems comprising a male of sexual maturity and several adult females, most of whom are related to one another; also groups comprising older and younger males; sometimes these come together to form large herds of over 300 animals