Don't mess with baboons

[ergophobe]

https://youtube.com/shorts/na2B_4AXDHY?si=I80ZB8FXDreo_Rhr

[creative666]

hehe this morning, lots of baboon troops on the Cape peninsula. Just before this photo I saw one of the rangers following from a distance - two rouge males, both brothers out on the town looking for a good time 

[littleman]

Creative666, that's really cool that you see baboons walking down the street.  I get excited when I see suburban Coyotes.

>Don't mess with baboons

That video really illustrates how collective effort of a pack can take on an animal that I would assume would easily win against a single baboon.  Watching that video I imagined early humans doing the same thing but with spears and clubs.  Once one of Lucy's cousins realized that those hands could use tools as a force multiplier the evolutionary pressures for intelligence must have kicked in hard.  And now I am sitting on my ass and using all that evolutionary capital to type some small talk to folks doing the same thousands of miles away and those baboons are eating our trash.  I think we broke the game.

[ergophobe]

>>  I think we broke the game.

HHH

I've heard people say that the atlatl was the moment we broke the game

[DrCool]

>>baboons

A few years back when I was visiting Victoria Falls in Zambia and there is a trail through a jungle that takes you down to the bottom of the falls. All along the trail were a bunch of baboons. Some of the large males seemed to be about my size but of course they are a bit smaller than that. I know they are accustomed to humans but the look in there eyes was one of "I know I could mess you up but it just isn't worth it right now". Definitely had me nervous and looking over my shoulder. They could have for sure taken me in a fight.

[creative666]

In the more scenic spots in Cape Town (Cape Point nature reserve) the baboons are 100% accustomed to humans - they casually walk up and take food from picnic tables or even out of an unsuspecting tourists hand!

Many shops/stores and even houses have security gates that are there more to keep baboons out than the potential thieves...

Side note: the company's gardens in central Cape Town is a no go zone due to squirrels, they chase you down looking for food! I was there maybe 4 or 5 years ago and saw a group of 5 chase a guy..

[littleman]

I guess it makes sense that squirrels that evolved in an area filled with all kinds of aggressive land predators would be more aggressive themselves.