Our Ambassador of the Peaks: the Gelada [GPT]

Among the animals that fascinate us, primates hold a special place. Their steady gaze, familiar expressions, and social interactions… everything about them evokes something of ourselves. This is no coincidence: they are our closest relatives in the tree of life shaped by evolution. Observing them is sometimes like looking into a mirror with blurred edges. At the Zoo sauvage, where species from cold regions are presented, it is true that primates are not numerous. After all, these animals tend to inhabit warmer regions, such as the tropical forests of South America, Africa, and Asia. Yet a few species, like us, have learned to cope with harsh winters and biting cold.

While Asia hosts certain more northern species, such as the famous Japanese macaque or the intriguing Roxelane’s snub-nosed monkey, primates adapted to cold climates are rare on other continents. A particular case in Africa, the gelada lives on the high plateaus of Ethiopia, at more than 3,000 meters in altitude. It is a truly unique primate: it is the only living representative of its genus, Theropithecus. A close relative of baboons, it has specialized in a singular way of life, that of a herbivore of mountainous highlands. Sitting on its haunches, it spends a large part of its day feeding on grasses.

Its appearance is striking: an imposing mane in the male, long canines, and above all, a strange patch of red skin shaped like an hourglass on its chest, which becomes blistered in females during the mating period. Finally, its long tufted tail, reminiscent of a lion’s, completes the portrait of this extraordinary primate. This thick coat is not merely aesthetic: it plays a crucial role in withstanding the cool temperatures and strong winds of the Ethiopian highlands. Where nights are cold and conditions harsh, the gelada has developed an anatomy that protects it from both wind and hail.

Although its appearance sets it apart from more familiar primates, the gelada remains a relatively close cousin of humans. Like us, it belongs to the group of catarrhine primates, which includes Old World monkeys, great apes, and humans. Although it is not part of the hominoids—the lineage of great apes, which includes species such as gorillas and chimpanzees—its complex social behavior, its communication rich in vocalizations and facial expressions, and its nuanced hierarchical relationships evoke dynamics found in our own societies. Observing a group of geladas is like diving into a small society woven from alliances, conflicts, and reconciliations.

In the wild, geladas live in large groups that can sometimes gather several hundred individuals in the heights of the Simien Mountains. Although they are currently classified as of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), their population is declining. Several threats weigh on them: the conversion of high-altitude grasslands into agricultural land, competition with livestock, and tensions with farmers, who may resort to hunting to protect their crops. To these human-related threats is added an issue well known in our northern regions: climate change. Indeed, it is likely to increasingly reduce the size of the geladas’ natural habitat.

At the Zoo sauvage, the gelada plays the role of ambassador for animals of extreme environments. It embodies this capacity for adaptation that fascinates as much as it challenges us, and offers a unique opportunity to talk about evolution, climate, and coexistence between humans and wildlife. The Zoo is also the only institution in Canada to present this species—an exclusivity that allows the public to discover a primate that is at once astonishing, little-known, and deeply endearing. And it also reminds us that the impacts of climate change are not limited to northern regions: even in Africa, on the high plateaus of Ethiopia, rising temperatures and changing landscapes can compromise the survival of species that are nevertheless perfectly adapted to their environment.

David Pagé, biologist
Director of conservation & education