Samburu National Reserve Facts about warthogs: * They’re tough. Warthogs are extremely adaptable and can survive long periods of time without water. In fact, they can for several months without water in the dry season. * They don’t have warts! They are named for the ‘wart’ on the sides of their face. However, these are not warts at all, but rather protrusions made up of bone and cartilage. These protrusions act as padding and protection for when males fight during mating season. * They’re speedy! Warthogs can reach speeds of up to 48km/h (30mph) when running. This speed helps them outrun predators and reach their dens for safety. * They ‘wear’ knee pads. Warthogs often kneel to graze on lower grasses. As a result, they have padding on their knees to protect them while kneeling. * They can be foster parents. Warthog sows have been known to foster nurse piglets if they have lost their own litter. This is known as allosucking and is considered as altruism rather than mistaken identity or milk theft. This means warthogs are classified as ‘cooperative breeders’. * They enjoy being groomed! It has been observed that warthogs allow banded mongoose and vervet monkeys to groom them and remove ticks from their hides. Birds also help warthogs fight the battle against pesky insects – oxpeckers and other species sometimes ride on warthogs, eating the insects off their hides.
Samburu National Reserve A baby baboon is born with an instinct to grasp tightly with both hands and feet. They need this ability to cling to their mothers chest as she makes her way through trees or brush. The female will be pregnant for 6 months and give birth to one, very rarely two, youngsters. A baby baboon is called an infant and is helpless at birth. The eyes are open however, and the infant is well furred. The newborn baboon also has the typical young primates ingrained gripping reflex, and is able to hold itself against its mothers belly with tightly grasping hands and feet almost immediately after birth. Infants ride against the mothers stomach or chest for the first several weeks, and then begin to ride on her back, usually in an upright position like a little jockey. Baboon babies are extremely intelligent, alert and curious. Within a few weeks the youngsters begin to explore their world climbing, running and jumping. They spend lots of time with their peers in active and exciting playgroups overlooked by several moms.
Samburu National Reserve Baboons are some of the most identifiable of the monkey world. They have tufts of hair on either side of their faces and large, hairless bottoms that can turn red. These old-world monkeys also do not have prehensile tails like some other monkeys, which means they don't use their tail like a hand.
