Page 27 - 2017 ZAMBIA

On another occasion, we came upon a very fruitful Ilala Palm where

some baboons were merrily scooting up the tree, grabbing the fruit,
leaping from one frond to another and even onto the branches of trees

of different species nearby. They squabbled among themselves,
screeching and play-fighting or

maybe it was serious. We were
so much enjoying the antics of
the baboons and George gave us

some interesting information
about the eating habits of the

baboons—they eat only the skin
of the palm fruit and drop or

throw the inner fruit on the
ground and sometimes at each

other.

He did not act as if he thought

we were taking too much time
enjoying the activity in front us.

And lucky he didn't move us off because the next act was about to start.
A mother elephant and her young calf soon hove on the scene,

scattering any baboons who happened to be on the ground. She and
her youngster began foraging among the fruits on the ground and

George explained that the elephants eat the fruits whole with skins or
without and that their dining was a necessity to the survival of the Ilala
palm.

Their fruits with the seed inside have evolved to require passage

through the intestines of the elephant in order to sprout and create the
next generation. The young elephant was learning from his mother

about eating the fruits and he was also learning not to be intimidated
by the screeching baboons! It was a wonderful experience to see these

activities with leisurely time!