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Portland State University

Publication Date

Fall 2010

Program Name

Tanzania: Wildlife Conservation and Political Ecology

Abstract

The ever-increasing human population means more land is required for housing and agricultural needs to sustain the growing population. This study involves a group of olive baboons living in and on the boundary of Lake Manyara National Park in Mto wa Mbu, Tanzania. They leave the park everyday and travel to surrounding areas. There are three different habitats near the baboons’ exit point of the park, a residential area with houses and some people, an undisturbed area without homes and residents, and an agricultural area, full of farms and the most densely populated area. The object of this study was to determine whether the behaviors of the baboons were influenced or changed by the different habitats. 389 total scans of the males, females and young were conducted over a three-week period, observing and recording their feeding, moving, resting, vigilant, grooming and playing behaviors. The results demonstrated that the baboon’s behaviors are dependent on the habitats they are in (p values 2.34707E-06, 7.43812E-09, 0.000115921). The study also showed that the baboons spend very little time in the agricultural habitat where the most people are (8.7%, 34/389 scans). The influx of humans and farms has affected the baboons and their actions. If the population continues to increase and development continues to expand, the baboons’ behaviors will likely continue to be affected.

Disciplines

Animal Sciences | Environmental Monitoring

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