How surviving baboons behaved after leopard predation: a case report

Matsumoto‐Oda, Akiko

doi:10.1537/ase.150223

Cited by 13 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(32 reference statements)

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“…Of the 24 sleeping sites, 13 were cliffside sites, consisting of steep, rocky ledges or faces of cliffs, or rocky outcroppings (“kopjes”), and 11 were riverine sites, consisting of relatively tall A. xanthophloea tree groves along the Ewaso Nyiro River or along the edge of a lake (Figure , Table ). “Baboon Cliffs,” the most frequently used cliffside site, rises 22.5–38.0 m between the low‐lying surroundings and the escarpment on Mpala (Matsumoto‐Oda, ) (Figure , Table ). The number of trees varied widely at riverine sites (range: 7–42, mean: 18.4), as did the percentage of trees with vines (range: 0–38%; mean: 17.8%).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Limited numbers of sleeping sites may also create prey hotspots for predators (Emsens, Hirsch, Kays, & Jansen, ). In fact, most documented predation events on baboons have occurred at or very near sleeping sites (Busse, ; Cheney et al, ; Cowlishaw, ; Isbell, Bidner, Van Cleave, Matsumoto‐Oda, & Crofoot, ; Matsumoto‐Oda, ). It has been hypothesized that baboons may have in turn evolved additional antipredator strategies to reduce the risk of nocturnal predation, such as frequently changing sleeping sites, moving to a different sleeping site after an attack, temporarily increasing group size by sharing the same sleeping site with other groups, or, following nights when predators are detected, arriving earlier at, or departing later from, sleeping sites (Altmann & Altmann, ; Anderson, ; Hamilton, ; Markham et al, ; Matsumoto‐Oda, ; Schreier & Swedell, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most documented cases of leopard predation on baboons have occurred as a result of observers witnessing leopard attacks or finding the remains of baboons with leopards nearby (e.g., Cheney et al, ; Cowlishaw, ; Matsumoto‐Oda, ). However, this provides only snapshots in time and space of predation and antipredator behavior.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The role of sleeping sites in the predator‐prey dynamics of leopards and olive baboons

Bidner

Matsumoto‐Oda

Isbell³

2018

American J Primatol

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Predation is widely recognized as an important selective pressure on prey animals such as baboons (Papio spp.), which face high leopard (Panthera pardus) predation risk, particularly at night. Baboons regularly sleep on cliff faces and in trees at night, ostensibly to avoid such predators. Despite retreating to such "refuges," baboons are most often killed by leopards at or near their sleeping sites. Because of the challenges of studying nocturnal behavior and human-averse predators, few systematic data exist to reveal how leopard ranging near baboon sleeping sites influences baboons' selection of sites and behavior at those sites. To investigate leopard-baboon dynamics at sleeping sites we deployed GPS/VHF radio collars on six representatives of four baboon groups and four leopards during a 14-month field study in Kenya. We used locations recorded every 15 min to identify baboons' cliffside and riverine sleeping sites, the frequency and duration of leopard visits to these sites, and baboons' adjustments in site use after leopard visits. Collared leopards visited riverine sites more frequently than cliffside sites, whereas most baboon groups strongly preferred cliffside sites, suggesting that leopard visits were often due to factors other than baboon presence, and that baboons used cliffside sites to reduce their risk of leopard predation. Regardless of type, collared leopards remained near baboon-occupied sleeping sites longer than vacant ones, indicating interest in hunting baboons then. Baboons at riverine sites departed later on mornings after leopard visits. Baboon groups occasionally shared sleeping sites simultaneously, possibly reducing risk through dilution. However, they did not reduce risk by frequently changing sleeping sites, minimizing detection at sleeping sites, or after leopard visits, arriving earlier the next evening or moving to a different site. Future research should explore if baboons readily detect nocturnal leopard presence and if predation-related changes in sleeping site use have cascading ecological effects. K E Y W O R D Santipredator behavior, felids, predation risk, primates, sleeping sites

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The role of sleeping sites in the predator‐prey dynamics of leopards and olive baboons

Bidner

Matsumoto‐Oda

Isbell³

2018

American J Primatol

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“…At the very least, this implies some comprehension that a significant event took place that carries negative emotional valence and possibly represents danger. Analogous responses have occurred in wild yellow baboons, anubis baboons ( Papio anubis ), chacma baboons and rhesus macaques where, following severe disturbance (trapping or predation events), groups abandoned their sleeping sites (reviewed in Anderson, ; Matsumoto‐Oda, ). By contrast, Mohnot () describes the decimation of a group of langurs in which 72 individuals died within the space of three days, possibly due to contaminated water, leaving only 11 survivors.…”

Section: Primate Thanatology: Contemporary Reportsmentioning

confidence: 88%

Death among primates: a critical review of non‐human primate interactions towards their dead and dying

2019

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For the past two centuries, non-human primates have been reported to inspect, protect, retrieve, carry or drag the dead bodies of their conspecifics and, for nearly the same amount of time, sparse scientific attention has been paid to such behaviours. Given that there exists a considerable gap in the fossil and archaeological record concerning how early hominins might have interacted with their dead, extant primates may provide valuable insight into how and in which contexts thanatological behaviours would have occurred. First, we outline a comprehensive history of comparative thanatology in non-human primates, from the earliest accounts to the present, uncovering the interpretations of previous researchers and their contributions to the field of primate thanatology. Many of the typical behavioural patterns towards the dead seen in the past are consistent with those observed today. Second, we review recent evidence of thanatological responses and organise it into distinct terminologies: direct interactions (physical contact with the corpse) and secondary interactions (guarding the corpse, vigils and visitations). Third, we provide a critical evaluation regarding the form and function of the behavioural and emotional aspects of these responses towards infants and adults, also comparing them with non-conspecifics. We suggest that thanatological interactions: promote a faster re-categorisation from living to dead, decrease costly vigilant/caregiving behaviours, are crucial to the management of grieving responses, update position in the group's hierarchy, and accelerate the formation of new social bonds. Fourth, we propose an integrated model of Life-Death Awareness, whereupon neural circuitry dedicated towards detecting life, i.e. the agency system (animate agency, intentional agency, mentalistic agency) works with a corresponding system that interacts with it on a decision-making level (animate/inanimate distinction, living/dead discrimination, death awareness). Theoretically, both systems are governed by specific cognitive mechanisms (perceptual categories, associative concepts and high-order reasoning, respectively). Fifth, we present an evolutionary timeline from rudimentary thanatological responses likely occurring in earlier non-human primates during the Eocene to the more elaborate mortuary practices attributed to genus Homo throughout the Pleistocene. Finally, we discuss the importance of detailed reports on primate thanatology and propose several empirical avenues to shed further light on this topic. This review expands and builds upon previous attempts to evaluate the body of knowledge on this subject, providing an integrative perspective and bringing together different fields of research to detail the evolutionary, sensory/cognitive, developmental and historical/archaeological aspects of primate thanatology. Considering all these findings and given their cognitive abilities, we argue that non-human primates are capable of an implicit awareness of death.

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“…If, as we suspect, concealment is important to a leopard's predatory success on geladas, then the microhabitat occupied by geladas should influence their risk of predation. Indeed, many primate species are known to increase vigilance rates in high‐risk areas or avoid these areas altogether (olive baboons: Matsumoto‐Oda, 2015; white‐faced capuchins, Cebus capucinus : Campos & Fedigan, 2014; patas monkeys: Burnham & Riordan, 2012; red‐tailed monkeys, Cercopithecus ascanius : McLester, Sweeney, Stewart, & Piel, 2019). Additional observations of gelada‐predator interactions are needed to evaluate whether geladas alter their vigilance behavior in high‐risk microhabitats or their ranging patterns after encounters with predators.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leopard predation on gelada monkeys at Guassa, Ethiopia

Lin

Foxfoot²,

Miller

et al. 2020

American J Primatol

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Predation is widely believed to exert strong selective pressure on primate behavior and ecology but is difficult to study and rarely observed. In this study, we describe seven encounters between lone wild leopards (Panthera pardus) and herds of geladas (Theropithecus gelada) over a 6‐year period in an intact Afroalpine grassland ecosystem at the Guassa Community Conservation Area, Ethiopia. Three encounters consisted of attempted predation on geladas by leopards, one of which was successful. All three attacks occurred in low‐visibility microhabitats (dominated by tussock graminoids, mima mounds, or tall shrubs) that provided leopards with hidden viewsheds from which to ambush geladas. An additional four encounters did not result in an attempted attack but still document the consistently fearful responses of geladas to leopards. In encounters with leopards, geladas typically gave alarm calls (n = 7 of 7 encounters), reduced interindividual distances (n = 5), and collectively fled towards or remained at their sleeping cliffs (n = 7), the only significant refugia in the open‐country habitat at Guassa. Geladas did not engage in mobbing behavior towards leopards. Encounters with leopards tended to occur on days when gelada herd sizes were small, raising the possibility that leopards, as ambush hunters, might stalk geladas on days when fewer eyes and ears make them less likely to be detected. We compare the behavioral responses of geladas to leopards at Guassa with those previously reported at Arsi and the Simien Mountains and discuss how gelada vulnerability and responses to leopards compare with those of other primate species living in habitats containing more refugia. Lastly, we briefly consider how living in multilevel societies may represent an adaptive response by geladas and other open‐country primates to predation pressure from leopards and other large carnivores.

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How surviving baboons behaved after leopard predation: a case report

Cited by 13 publications

References 28 publications

The role of sleeping sites in the predator‐prey dynamics of leopards and olive baboons

The role of sleeping sites in the predator‐prey dynamics of leopards and olive baboons

Death among primates: a critical review of non‐human primate interactions towards their dead and dying

Leopard predation on gelada monkeys at Guassa, Ethiopia

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