h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I mistakenly thought that most baboons were tailess wonders with multi-coloured rumps but I suppose those are the ones here in most zoos. I find them fairly frightening and would have thought that a house invasion by them would be truly ugly --as they are smart and have such big teeth.I am glad they aren't in my neighbourhood.

Their social interaction is fascinating, thanks for sharing it.

Hello Elektra, thanks for your comment. The rainbow-butt short-tailed ones are likely Mandrills. They are the most colourful baboons (and the most colourful monkeys, probably, as well) and popular in zoos. Which is great in a way because in nature they are quite threatened. I hope the zoos are managing their populations for genetic diversity and so on. But even more threatened than the Mandrills are the Drills ... I reall want to write something about those. I have an old Mandrill painting here but it's not very good; improving it shouldn't be too hard though. And the Geladas are fascinating as well. They do lip-flips making their faces look like those of aliens ... from the Aliens movies in fact.

Great, Willem, with a touch of education too (and yes, speculative it may - or may not - be but educational, it is).

I look forward to your Gelada.