What do Rooiels baboons eat?
A 2017-2019 study showed that natural foods like fynbos, lawn grasses, exotic plants, bulbs/tubers, and bark made up about 80% of the troop’s diet. At the time of the study, one house left food out for wildlife, including baboons, which made up about 10% of what they ate. Human-derived food from houses or cars accounted for 2.1% of their diet, and food from unsecured bins was 0.96%. The rest of their diet consisted of occasional treats like shellfish and other unknown foods. The troop was also observed occasionally consuming clay along the road
They prefer the more nutritious Overberg Dune Strandveld fynbos found in lower lying areas over the Kogelberg Sandstone fynbos found on the mountain slopes.
Considering that the troop spent more time resting than feeding, they appear to be able to adequately meet their nutritional needs, even in winter.