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Baby in South Africa Adopted by Baboon

YEARS SPENT IN THE BUSH LONDON, June 23. A well-authenticated case of a baboon adopting a negro baby is reported from South Africa. "“Presumably the mother baboon lost her own young and adopted the baby through hor maternal instinct,” said Professor Ruggles Gates, of London University. The boy, now 12, was captured by a police patrol near Grahamstown and could only utter guttural noises. Later, he was taught English, and is now working on a farm. He says he walked on all-fours, slept in the bush naked, and ate crickets, ostrich eggs, prickly pear, mealies, and v/ild honey. Often lie was stung by bees when robbing hives.

1 ‘An ostrich kicked me in the head when I was raiding a nest,he added. Professor Gates secs no reason to disbelieve the boy, although this is the first case of a baboon adopting a child, which bears and wolves have done in India.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19390701.2.110.2

Bibliographic details

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 153, 1 July 1939, Page 12

Word Count
158

Baby in South Africa Adopted by Baboon Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 153, 1 July 1939, Page 12

Baby in South Africa Adopted by Baboon Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 153, 1 July 1939, Page 12