Each week, CatchMark Community features a Wild Animal Fact from Montague native Seth Simon, the creator of the popular bite-sized wildlife series. Seth is known for his upbeat personality, love of animals, and knack for turning fascinating facts into fun, 60-second reads. His goal is to spark curiosity, encourage conservation awareness, and bring a little joy to everyone who follows along. We’re proud to share his work and add a touch of “wild” to your week.
As part of this weekly feature, Seth brings his signature enthusiasm straight to our readers with a fresh creature spotlight—packed with quick facts, habitat insights, and the unique quirks that make each animal extraordinary. His posts combine education and entertainment in a way that’s accessible for all ages, making wildlife learning both fun and memorable. Enjoy this week’s feature below!
Hey 
Wild Fact Fans, Seth here with the new Friday Feature creature. Don’t forget to please like 
, share and comment 
questions 
down below 
If you have any on this weeks animal ^^ or any creature you’d like me to do a post on in the future
This weeks feature creature is a Social Opportunistic nomad of the Arabian Deserts 
& Highlands; roaming in large troops searching for whatever food they can find. Recognized by long silvery tan hair, reddish brown faces and males having large manes and cape down their backs; these primates were well revered back in the days of the Ancient Egyptians; carving them in hieroglyphics, mummifying them, and having them being well associated with the Spirit of Knowledge, which fits well for them as they’re as smart as they are tough. & adaptable. Both in the past and still to this day; these primates are considered sacred, as one of the worlds most impressive monkeys 
This weeks feature creature is the Hamadryas Baboon
1. With males being 27 to 37 inches long (with a tail that makes up most of the length) & weighing in at 33 to 66 lbs; theyre twice the size of females. Along with size, males grow Silvery mane cape when they’re 10 years old to go along with their olive brown fur.
2. They can live to be 20 to 40 years old
3. Though usually peaceful ; The long manes of Male Hamadryas Baboons makes them look bigger to rivals and predators. the sight of charging baboon while exposing its huge canine teeth scares away most enemies when they need to.
4. While they can put up a big fight against most predators; they prefer to escape enemies by running at speeds of 30mph
5. The name “hamadryas” comes from an Ancient Greek compound word that refers to a nymph that lives inside & protects trees
. While they rest in trees ; they mainly in scrublands, savannas, and desert highlands environments of Northeast Africa & Arabia; making them the only monkey species that’s found in both Africa & Asia
6. Hamadryas Baboons are highly social primates that live in troops / bands that can number in from 30 to 750 individuals. These groups are usually split up during the day to forage with 1 to 10 individuals ; which are called an OMU (one Male Unit); which involves a single alpha male, a harem of females, their offspring, and sometimes a lower ranking male follower. This patriarchal social structure is unique among the baboons as most stay together completely to forage.
7. Like other Baboon species; Hamadryas’s are opportunistic omnivores that will eat anything from grasses, leaves 
, flowers 
, nuts 
, seeds, roots , tubers and fruit 
to insects 
, spiders 
, scorpions 
, snakes 
, lizards 
, carrion 
, small birds 
, frogs 
, small rodents 
, hares 
,small monkeys 
& young antelopes. In populated areas, they have been known to raid waste bins 
for food, eat crops 
from farms and prey upon poultry 
or small goats 
.
8. Hamadryas baboon can store food it gathers in its cheek pouches for later like a chipmunk 
.
9. Also like other baboons; they’re well adapted for living on the ground; with long legs to help they cover plenty of ground while foraging & tough bare rumps (which baboons are famous for) to allow them to sit comfortably on branches and other rough surfaces.
10. Along with meeting together at Water holes 
in the beginning of the day to socialize & play before splitting into Omu groups; they come back to sleep in trees & on cliffsides to keep safe from predators like Lions 
, Hyenas, wolves 
& Leopards 
during the night 
. Eagles 
, cheetahs and jackals are also a main threat to young baboons.
11. Like baboons; they converse in many ways such as different calls & thru body language. Staring & Yawning 
while showing their canines is a threat display & Dominant males lip 
smack & chatter their teeth 
to reassure females in their group
12. Hamadryas baboons breed year-round; with Males mating with any of his harems old enough to mate; as they can tell by their rumps which turner brighter pink when ready. Lower rank males may attempt to mate with an OMUs receptive females if the leader is not nearby.
13. After a pregnancy of nearly half a year; a mother hamadryas baboon will give birth to a single black furred infant the size of a Guinea Pig 
; which will rely on its mother for several months & become olive brown around that time too. When 10 years old; males will fight to control an OMU of their own or live without one within the troop with other bachelor males.
14. Being an old world monkey species; they have opposable thumbs & their tails are non prehensile and mainly used for balance.
Next weeks feature creature hint 
: this rare species of migratory 
sea 
reptile has a very distinct Hawk eagle like bill
Wild Animal Facts: Greater Rhea
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