How often do baboons reproduce?
In the Rooiels troop a fertile female baboon reproduces about once every 20 months, which is similar to the interval found in troops who do not interact with human habitats. She will be pregnant for six months, and feed her baby for about 11 months before weaning and again becoming sexually receptive. However, if an infant baboon dies before it’s weaned, the mother will become receptive to mating sooner, and therefore will have a quicker reproductive cycle. A study of the Rooiels troop showed that here, the period between births was 20 months on average¹.
The mother of a newborn has quite a job on her hands – she needs to feed well to produce milk, and has to do it with three limbs, since a newborn doesn’t have enough strength to cling to her belly while she is foraging, so must be held in place. Luckily the father will often help out and look after the baby while the mother feeds.