Blood parameters of the wild chacma baboon, Papio ursinus

Abstract

Serum chemical and haematological data are presented for 63 wild chacma baboons, Papio ursinus, living in the Okavango Swamp, Botswana. Most values are similar to those which have been found previously for captive baboons, although some differences are noted, particularly in serum lipid levels. The effects on blood assays of 16 environmental, physiological and behavioural variables are examined. Female reproductive state, especially pregnancy, and the age and size of individuals were the variables which had the most significant effects on blood assays, whereas the presence of blood parasites and the dominance status of an individual had no effect. The importance of defining boundary conditions when describing normal blood values is emphasized.