Foraging high in the Leucadendron coniferum trees.
Feeding on the cones, Leucadendron coniferum.
Gnawing into the seeds.
A favoured snack.
It’s fascinating to watch baboons out foraging in their natural environment and to see how they like to vary their diet. In the above pictures the Leucadendron coniferum (Dune Cone Bush) are ripening and the baboons are found high up in these bushes crunching cones enthusiastically.
Harvesting the berries from Rhus crenata.
Close up of the berries ( Dune crowberries)
A juvenile clings to his mother while she picks Dune crowberries.
Baboon scat
Scat showing the partially digested berries.
Rhus crenata ( Dune crowberry) is another favourite, both the leaves but especially the ripe berries.
The Slangbessie is a thorny shrub growing to 2m or more.
The lighter juvenile baboons can reach the highest branches.
The sweetest, most tender leaves are the hardest to get at.
Some degree of care is taken here as the Lycium ferocissimum is a thorny shrub, but it still doesn’t deter the lighter baboons from reaching the topmost leaves.
Nature on the Edge 
Superb! These detailed, candid shots of foraging behavior were a feast for this follower. Another chapter for your book!
Thanks for the encouraging comment Nick. The material for a book is growing – have a whole catalogue on preferred food items topping their raiding menus – top of that list is dried spaghetti and sugar.
Look at that young whippersnapper up there in the tip-top! These are fantastic shots, Liz. So cool to see what nature is up to where you are. (Hey! That was a pun!)
“Whippersnapper”!! Such an apt word. Those juveniles like pushing the boundaries 🙂 But what a balancing act ….
Thanks for bringing your view of nature to us – they must be so fascinating to watch in person.
Thanks for the comments Eliza. Yes, they’re intriguing creatures; endlessly fascinating.
It occurs to me that the title of your blog site, “Nature on the Edge,” is wonderfully appropriate to the observations you make time and again. Thanks for educating us.
Thanks for the comments 🙂 By the way I recently came across the term ‘trophic casade’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa5OBhXz-Q and remembered reading your excellent blog posts on the wolves in Yellowstone, the elk and the effect on vegetation growth 🙂 So there we have it … cross enlightenment!
Really interesting set of images….they seem not to be camera shy….where is fynbos? : ))
Thanks! Fortunately I was in a car and they’re not phased by vehicles. Getting out of the car and approaching on foot is a different matter… and not recommended anyway. “Fynbos’ is the local term for our indigenous vegetation. I’m happy to see these creatures fulfilling their ecological role in their natural environment as in the past there have been bad issues with some of the troops raiding houses and causing much damage.
outstanding!
Thanks!
You’ve really made a study of these guys Liz – well done. Altho I may not have missed the scat photo had you left it out LOL !!
🙂 that’s true Tina, i have an endless fascination for these complex creatures. And those ‘calling cards’ hold surprising information!
Amazing captures of these fascinating creatures, Liz. 🙂
Thanks Sylvia.