Bubba the baboon dies after spending more than a decade at Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia
A primate who lived at Columbia’s Riverbanks Zoo & Garden for more than a decade has died.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Bubba, our 31-year-old male Hamadryas baboon,” zoo officials said in a Facebook post.
Bubba had lived at the zoo for 12 years, and was known for his “feisty and spicy personality,” officials said.
There was no word if the zoo would seek to find another male baboon.
The lifespan of a Hamadryas baboon is about 20 years in the wild, but ones in captivity have lived to be older than 30, according to the New England Primate Conservancy.
Hamadryas baboons are known for their hairless, colored callosities (rump pads) and bare dog-like muzzles, according to the Riverbanks website. They are large, ground dwelling primates, and are one of four species of baboons.
Hamadryas baboons conservation status is listed as Least Concern, according to the zoo.
Bubba was especially close to his sister, Baffles, and was always by her side, zookeeper Alexa said on Facebook.
“We will miss his unique charisma and the sass he often showed us during training sessions,” Alexa said. “We are so tremendously grateful for the opportunity to care for Bubba during his 12 years at Riverbanks.”
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This story was originally published February 17, 2022 at 10:38 AM with the headline "Bubba the baboon dies after spending more than a decade at Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia."
