In an effort to tackle the growing baboon problem, the National Center for Wildlife (NCW) has devised a sustainable solution expected to be fully implemented by 2026. Speaking in front of a large screen connected to the Remote Sensing Unit, Engineer Khalaf Al-Shamri, NCW’s Head of Information Systems, outlined the spread of baboons across the Kingdom’s western and southern regions.
Using data processed by artificial intelligence, Al- Shamri revealed that, by September 2023, 36,000 baboons had been monitored across 561 hotspots. Thanks to 34 field teams, over 36,000 reports of baboon-related issues have been addressed, focusing on reducing the damage caused by these animals in populated areas.

Al-Sudais: Baboons Drive Broader Environmental Issues with Serious Impacts

The growing baboon problem has far-reaching environmental, economic, and health consequences, warns Al-Sudais. Urban expansion and easy access to high-calorie human food have caused significant changes in baboon behaviour, upsetting the social systems they’ve maintained for thousands of years. The introduction of rich human diets has altered their hormonal balance, lowered the age of maturity and accelerating reproduction, contributing to the “Wandering Females” phenomenon.

The Program addressing this crisis focuses on multiple solutions: restoring ecological balance, gathering detailed data on baboon populations, and curbing harmful human practices. Key aims include raising awareness about predator conservation, studying baboon ecology, and preventing the spread of diseases between humans and baboons.

The Rise of the ‘Wandering Female’ Baboons
The breakdown of baboon social structures has led to drastic changes in their behaviour and biology. Once naturally wary of humans, baboons now live closer to human settlements, often approaching them. The shift in their diet, driven by access to high-calorie human food, has altered their hormones, lowering the age of maturity in both sexes and shortening the breeding cycle.
This has given rise to a new phenomenon – ‘Wandering Females’. Previously unheard of in the wild, this behaviour sees female baboons leading groups of other females, a stark contrast to their traditional male-dominated society. The collapse of their social order has allowed this new dynamic to emerge, highlighting the deep impact of human influence on these wild creatures.
The issue of “wandering females” isn’t unique to baboons; it’s become a significant concern affecting both locals and visitors in various regions. These monkeys, having altered their behaviour, now

pose a risk by damaging crops, threatening public safety with sudden attacks, and spoiling the natural and tourist landscapes where they roam. Wildlife experts suggest that human activity plays a key role in this problem. Park goers and travellers often feed the monkeys high-calorie foods, which boosts their reproduction rates and leads them into more populated areas. The problem has thus escalated. Baboon primates, originally from the mountainous and desert regions of the Arabian Peninsula, are known for their intelligence and adaptability to different environments.
In some regions of Saudi Arabia, baboons have become a troubling presence, with their numbers soaring dramatically over the last forty years. This surge has led to a host of environmental, economic, and social issues.
Studies identify four primary factors driving this problem. Firstly, there is an imbalance in the baboons’ natural habitats. Drought and climate changes have severely reduced available food sources, and the absence of natural predators, such as leopards, wolves, hyenas, and black

eagles, has allowed the baboon population to grow unchecked.
Secondly, urban expansion has had a detrimental effect. The rapid development of residential areas, agricultural lands, and roads has fragmented the baboons’ habitats. Additionally, cutting down trees and overgrazing have degraded the vegetation, pushing the baboons into urban areas and their outskirts.
The third factor is the availability of alternative food sources. Baboons benefit from being fed directly by locals or tourists, and they also scavenge from waste containers in cities, along roads, and in landfills. These sources are higher in calories than their natural diet, making them particularly appealing.

Finally, changes in baboon behaviour and physiology are contributing to the problem. The baboons’ social dynamics have shifted towards a more domesticated behaviour due to easy access to human food. This has led to increased aggression and a higher birth rate, as the troop competes for resources. The physiological changes include earlier sexual maturity and shorter birthing intervals, further fuelling the population boom.
The baboon issue has been a concern for over 40 years, driven by a complex mix of ecological imbalances. In response, the NCW has introduced a thorough programme focused on sustainable management. The goal is to control the rising baboon numbers in urban and agricultural areas of the western and southwestern regions of Saudi Arabia.
In the initial phase, the programme has identified over 40,000 baboons across six regions, with more than 500 population centres. The initiative comprises several projects aimed at restoring environmental balance in these areas. While these solutions will take time to show results, ongoing monitoring and sustainable interventions are crucial to achieving long-term success.

Integrative and Sustainable Approach
The NCW’s initiative tackles the baboon issue through a comprehensive and sustainable strategy, involving key stakeholders in the process. By examining the interactions among baboons, humans, and their environments, and drawing on global best practices, the programme aims to restore ecological balance in the affected regions. The programme has five main goals:
• Restore Ecosystems: Rebalance ecosystems disrupted by the growing baboon population using proven global methods.
• Develop a Database: Create

a detailed database to track baboon numbers, distribution, and factors affecting their population, enabling ongoing monitoring and sustainable solutions.
• Promote Conservation: Raise awareness about the need to protect natural predators and discourage harmful practices such as feeding baboons.
• Economic Improvement: Offer integrated solutions to manage baboon numbers, enhancing the economic conditions of affected areas.
• Conduct Research: Undertake studies on baboon behaviour and health, including monitoring diseases shared between baboons and humans.

Implementation Timeline
The programme is rolling out in three phases. The first phase, running from December 2021 to July 2023, focused on surveying baboon populations, identifying problem areas, and addressing issues in Makkah and surrounding regions.
The second phase, starting in May 2023 and expected to continue until December 2026, aims to manage and reduce baboon numbers through integrated interventions, executed in three stages.
The final phase, set to begin in December 2026 and extend to 2030, will concentrate on ensuring the sustainability of the solutions implemented.

Baboon as the driving force
Eng. Omar Al-Sudais, the director tackling the baboon population surge, provided insights into the multifaceted nature of this issue. He explained, “Our view on the baboon problem extends beyond simply dealing with one type of wild animal. It is a complex issue rooted deeply in the entire environmental system, involving interactions between the environment, humans, and the baboons themselves”.
Addressing the issue starts with understanding its origins. The rapid development over the past decades, which overlooked environmental standards, has led to habitat destruction and fragmentation. This has pushed baboons into residential areas and made them reliant on human

food sources. Overflowing waste dumps, brimming with surplus food, have further attracted these primates, altering their behaviour and reproduction patterns.
The problem is compounded by the loss of natural predators—such as leopards, wolves, and vultures. The degradation of vegetation due to excessive tree clearing and overgrazing, alongside human provisioning of food in public areas and gardens, has exacerbated the issue. These challenges now pose significant environmental and economic risks, impacting agricultural production and public health.

SAR 500 Fine for Feeding Baboons

Under the implementing regulations of the Environment Law aimed at protecting wildlife and their products, anyone caught feeding baboons or other wild animals will face a fine of 500 Saudi riyals.

In addition to the comprehensive solutions being developed by the NCW, Al-Sudais envisions creating parks, recreational areas, and safari zones for rehabilitated baboons. These areas could become popular tourist spots, offering visitors a chance to engage with the baboons in a controlled environment. He remarked, “Developing a sustainable solution to this problem is crucial. I see the baboon as the driving force encouraging numerous other projects, each helping different types of wildlife!”

Al-Sudais believes the key to a lasting solution lies in establishing environmental reserves. “Our goal aligns with the Vision’s directive to create 30% protected areas on land and sea, meeting international targets. These reserves will offer ideal environments for various species, ensuring their preservation and protection.”