The gelada is the world's last surviving species of ancient, grass-eating primate.

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Living exclusively in the high mountain meadows of Ethiopia, the gelada is a unique primate that spends its days sitting down to graze. Unlike its baboon relatives, it has evolved specialized anatomy for this terrestrial lifestyle, including fatty sitting pads and a social structure that can form massive herds.

The gelada, or Theropithecus gelada, is a distinct primate found only in the high-altitude grasslands of the Ethiopian Highlands. While often mistakenly called a baboon, it is the sole living member of its genus. These animals are uniquely adapted to their environment, featuring short, stumpy fingers for climbing the steep, rocky cliffs where they retreat at night to sleep in huddled groups. Their physical build is robust, with males weighing between 28.6 and 46.2 pounds and sporting a distinctive, hourglass-shaped red patch of skin on their chests.

As the most terrestrial of all primates besides humans, geladas have evolved to spend the majority of their day sitting and feeding on grasses and herbs. This dietary specialization is supported by fatty pads on their rear ends, which provide comfort during long hours of foraging. Their social organization is remarkably complex, consisting of multi-level societies that begin with small family units. These units often combine into bands to travel, and under certain conditions, they aggregate into massive herds that can reach up to 1,200 individuals, a scale rarely seen among other primates.

The gelada's survival is currently tied to the health of the Ethiopian Plateau, a region known as the 'Roof of Africa.' This area is essential for both the monkeys and the human populations that have inhabited it for centuries, including the historic kingdom of Aksum. However, the gelada faces modern threats from encroaching agriculture and habitat degradation. While historical estimates from the 1970s suggested a population of 500,000, recent conservation efforts and ongoing surveys are critical to understanding their current status as they navigate a landscape shaped by both natural topography and human development.

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