Long canine teeth.
Sharp claws.
And strong arms.
They can run,
jump
and climb faster than humans.
But it's their intelligence
you should worry about.
Because they'll study you.
And could beat you at your own game.
Baboons are found
in parts of Africa and Arabia.
Many people know baboons
by their swollen pink butts,
but this only happens to females
when they are ready to mate.
They're some of the planet's
biggest monkeys
and share 91% of their DNA with humans.
Thanks to their omnivorous diet,
their teeth are sharp and “dagger-like”.
And their impressive speed
allows them to have momentum
and attack with great physical power.
Their funny face
can turn terrifying in seconds.
Here's what you should do
if a baboon suddenly goes bananas.
You may be at risk
of encountering baboons
if you are in South Africa
in any area near a forest.
They will often come out
of the protection of the trees
to scavenge.
In places like Cape Town,
there are often signs warning you
that a certain area
commonly has baboons.
If you see just one baboon, stay alert.
There could be about 50 members
of its troop nearby.
People who live near forests
sometimes have to deal with troops
raiding their houses looking for food.
When you are around baboons,
do not look them in the eyes
or smile at them.
They can interpret visible teeth
as a sign of hostility.
Never feed them,
whether you’re at the zoo
or seeing them in the wild.
If you have food on you,
the baboons will try to grab it.
If that happens,
don't challenge them.
Just let them take it and move along.
Never try to physically interact
with baboons.
Back away from them
without making sudden movements.
If you need to take a path
through baboon territory,
keep a safe distance
and walk around any you encounter.
Baboons will sometimes
run toward you while vocalizing
but back off when they are very close.
If this happens,
do not run,
make eye contact or yell.
But if they keep threatening you,
be ready to drop your bags and run.
Baboons are only aggressive
if you provoke them
or make them feel threatened.
If one attacks you,
you must get it off you
as quickly as you can.
Drop or throw something
that may interest the baboon.
It may stop and examine it.
Like that Twinkie
you were saving for later.
If the attack continues, scream for help.
Having more people around
will help spook it away.
You will have to get tested
for various viruses and bacteria
after any aggressive contact.
Baboons can carry the hepatitis A
and Epstein-Barr viruses,
not to mention the cytomegalovirus.
These can cause disease in humans.
They can also transmit streptococcus
and tuberculosis.
And you'll need to get rabies shots,
just to be safe.
Now that you know
why baboons are so dangerous,
you wouldn't dare
try to bring one home as a pet,
would you?
Every day,
thousands of people risk being bitten
or mauled to death by their exotic pets.
And we've made a list
of the most dangerous ones.
Find out which ones, right here.