Mammals diurnal

Gelada

Theropithecus gelada

Meet the 'Bleeding-Heart Monkey,' a resilient high-altitude grazer found only in the dramatic mountains of Ethiopia. With their expressive vocalizations and shaggy manes, Geladas offer a rare glimpse into a complex, cliff-side society.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

straighten

Size

Body length 50–75 cm (20–30 in); Weight: Males 18.5–21 kg (41–46 lb), Females 11 kg (24 lb)

palette

Colors

Dark brown to buff shaggy fur; males feature a prominent golden-brown mane; both sexes have a distinct hairless red skin patch on the chest.

visibility

Key Features

Bright red hourglass-shaped skin patch on the chest
Long shaggy mane on males
Flat, monkey-like face with deep-set eyes
Short, sturdy fingers for plucking grass

When You’ll See Them

schedule

Activity pattern diurnal

brightness_5

Peak hours 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM

calendar_month

Season Year-round; sightings are most dramatic during the wet season when the grass is lush and green.

restaurant

Diet The world's only grass-eating primate; they consume grass blades, seeds, and occasionally bulbs or roots during the dry season.

park

Habitat High-altitude montane grasslands and steep rocky cliffs of the Ethiopian Highlands.

bar_chart
Loading activity data...

Behavior

The Gelada is a social powerhouse, living in a complex multi-level society that is unique among primates. They are often found in massive herds that can number up to 1,200 individuals, though these are typically made up of smaller reproductive units. Unlike many other monkeys, Geladas are terrestrial and spend their days sitting on the ground, shuffling along on their haunches while they graze on the highland grasses.

Communication is the glue that holds their society together. They are famous for their high-pitched, rhythmic vocalizations that sound remarkably like human speech, often accompanied by a dramatic 'lip-flip' display where they pull their upper lip back over their nose to show off their teeth. While they can look intimidating, they are generally peaceful foragers, focusing their energy on maintaining social bonds through grooming and vocal chatter.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

To capture the best footage of a Gelada, you must account for their unique 'vertical' lifestyle. They spend their nights on sheer cliff faces for protection and move up to the plateaus at sunrise to forage. Position your trail camera along these cliff edges or on the common 'paths' leading from the cliffs to the grazing meadows. A camera height of 18 to 24 inches is ideal, as these monkeys spend most of their time sitting down. This low angle allows you to capture their facial expressions and the vibrant red chest patch at eye level.

Since Geladas live in open, high-altitude environments, the light can be incredibly harsh. Avoid pointing your camera directly east or west to prevent lens flare during their most active morning and evening hours. Instead, aim for a north-facing setup. If your camera has adjustable trigger speeds, set it to the fastest possible setting; while they move slowly while grazing, their social interactions—like chasing or playing—happen in sudden, rapid bursts. High-definition video mode is particularly rewarding with Geladas because it captures their complex vocalizations and the unique 'lip-flip' gestures that photos might miss.

In terms of seasonal adjustments, the dry season (December to March) makes for dustier conditions which can trigger false PIR sensors. Ensure your lens is cleaned regularly. During this time, placing a camera near a known highland spring or water source is a winning strategy, as the troop will congregate there to drink and groom. Because they are habituated to human presence in many national parks, they may be curious about your equipment; ensure your camera housing is rugged and securely strapped to a rock or heavy post to prevent a curious juvenile from repositioning your shot.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Gelada.

Olive Baboon

Baboons have a much longer, dog-like muzzle and lack the red 'bleeding heart' chest patch found on Geladas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gelada are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. They typically emerge from their cliff-side sleeping spots shortly after sunrise to begin grazing and return to the cliffs just before dusk.

Gelada are endemic only to the Ethiopian Highlands, so they won't appear in backyards elsewhere. In their native range, they are attracted to open, short-grass plateaus and are not typically drawn to artificial lures or food.

They are unique among primates for being graminivores. Over 90% of their diet consists of grass blades, which they pluck with precision using their fingers. They also eat seeds, flowers, and underground rhizomes.

No, Gelada are highly specialized for life at 1,800 to 4,400 meters above sea level. They are strictly confined to the moorlands and montane grasslands of Ethiopia, far from urban or suburban sprawl.

While often called 'Gelada Baboons,' they are not true baboons. You can tell them apart by the red hairless patch on their chest (baboons have hair there) and their shorter, more rounded muzzle compared to the dog-like snout of a baboon.

Record Gelada at your habitat

Connect a camera to start building your own species record — AI identifies every visitor automatically.

Join free Identify a photo