The Strongest Lion

Chapter 74 Teasing a Baboon

Chapter Seventy-Four: Teasing a Baboon

At this time, the baboon king will also take the initiative to show friendliness to the male and female baboons of lower status and groom them. This further consolidates its status, and the baboons in the group will also compete to flatter the baboon king. The baboon king only symbolically grooms the baboons of lower status, while the baboons of lower status do their best. Therefore, the baboon king's fur is always shiny and smooth, and can be seen at a glance.

Primarily active on the ground, but also climbs trees to sleep or forage. A good swimmer. Capable of making loud calls. Active during the day, roosting at night in large tree branches or caves.

Their diet includes various small animals and plants. They are social animals, with groups typically consisting of 30 to 60 individuals, though larger groups of 200 to 300 are also possible. Females are more numerous, but males hold a higher status.

Male East African baboons determine their social hierarchy through fighting, with only higher-ranking males allowed to mate with females in estrus.

The group is led by a strong, elderly male baboon, with lookouts responsible for warning of approaching predators. During the retreat, the females and cubs retreat first, with the males protecting them from behind, emitting threatening roars and even counterattacking. Their strength and ferocity make them a significant threat to any intruder. Their primary predator is the leopard.

Scientific research has found that offspring born and raised by female baboons who enjoy socializing in groups have a particularly high survival rate. However, the exact role that a baboon's sociability plays in the prosperity of its family or its genetic makeup remains a mystery.

However, research data on baboons suggests that communication between baboons helps them groom each other and lower their heart rate, thus calming their emotions. It also promotes the release of endorphins in the brain to eliminate tension.

Psychologists have also found from previous observations that when male baboons face danger, they either respond in kind with the same intimidation or flee, while female baboons will send out distress signals to their companions when they face danger.

Recently, the journal *Science* also published research findings on this emergency response method used by female baboons. Omnivorous, they can find food in almost any environment, including plants such as vines, twigs, leaves, grass, roots, bark, buds, fruits (durian, rambutan, jackfruit, lychee, mango, taro, fig), lichens, tubers, seeds, mushrooms, bulbs, and rhizomes.

In arid regions, such as the northeastern deserts, they feed on small invertebrates such as insects, grubs, spiders, and scorpions. They also occasionally eat birds and small vertebrates. They typically drink water at midday.

Chu Ye now sees a baboon hiding in the grass, constantly peering towards the big tree in front of it.

"Hey, what is this baboon trying to do! Why is it hiding in this patch of grass?" Chu Ye looked at the baboon in front of him, not understanding what it was trying to do.

However, Chu Ye was also hiding in the grass, wanting to see what the baboon was up to.

Before Chu Ye could finish thinking that, the baboon suddenly started running forward.

Chu Ye saw the baboon running forward and followed it, wanting to see what the baboon was up to in its pride's territory.

After running ahead for a while, the baboon hid again in a patch of grass.

Chu Ye also hid in a patch of grass nearby.

Just then, Chu Ye saw one of his pride's cubs, his sister Hua Hua, playing in the grass.

The baboon was hiding in a patch of grass about ten meters away from Huahua. It stared at Huahua with wide eyes, looking like it was drooling.

"Oh no! This baboon is trying to hunt our lion cub!"

Chu Ye was now certain that this baboon wanted to hunt down the lion cubs in their pride, and specifically, it wanted to hunt down Hua Hua.

"Hmph, you're quite the audacious baboon, daring to run wild in our lion pride's territory. I'll teach you a lesson!"

Chu Ye was furious when he saw that this baboon was trying to run wild in their pride's territory, so he immediately followed it again.

The baboon was completely unaware that a lion cub was watching it from behind; it thought to itself that no one here had spotted it.

Perhaps this baboon was so eager to eat a lion cub that it dared to venture into the heart of the lion pride's territory.

Hua Hua, completely unaware of the danger, continued playing in the grass, oblivious to the fact that a baboon was watching it!

The baboon was overjoyed to see that the flower hadn't noticed it at all, feeling that it was sure it could catch the little lion this time.

Hua Hua was unaware of the impending danger; on the contrary, while playing, it was getting closer and closer to the baboon.

"Oh no! This baboon is going to attack Hua Hua! I have to protect Hua Hua!" Chu Ye was already prepared. He knew he had to protect Hua Hua. Even if Hua Hua was any other lion cub, he would protect her just the same way, not just because she was his sister.

The baboon became even more excited as it saw Hua Hua getting closer and closer. When Hua Hua was only five or six meters away, it suddenly darted out of the grass and pounced on her.

Just as the baboon darted out of the bushes, Chu Ye also darted out of the bushes.

What Chu Ye, the baboon, and Hua Hua are currently playing out is a classic case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

This baboon had no idea that at this moment, another lion cub would take it as prey.

At this time, there were no adult lions in the Jike pride. The two lionesses and the male lion had all gone hunting. Only these eight cubs remained at home.

This baboon stumbled upon a perfect opportunity to prey on a lion cub. That morning, while foraging in the grass, it saw the male and female lions of the Jike pride hunting, while the eight lion cubs played near a thicket, completely unaware that a baboon had its eye on one of them.

The baboon immediately pounced on Huahua. Huahua, however, was completely caught off guard by this sudden turn of events.

When Hua Hua saw an adult baboon rushing towards it, it was completely terrified. It just stared at the baboon in astonishment, not knowing what to do at all.

Seeing that even the lion cub was terrified by its actions, the baboon became even more smug. It felt confident that this time, it would definitely be able to hunt a lion cub and taste lion meat.

Although baboons are not considered carnivores, they do enjoy eating meat. Given the opportunity, they will not hesitate to kill other animals.

This time, the baboon wanted to hunt a lion cub and taste lion meat.

Just as the baboon pounced in front of Hua Hua, before it even touched her fur, it felt a sharp claw grab its red bottom.

"ah!--"

The baboon was excitedly trying to catch the lion cub, but suddenly it was ambushed, which terrified the baboon.

At the time, the baboon had no idea what animal was attacking it. Its attention was entirely focused on the lion cub in front of it. It was only interested in catching the cub and didn't notice any other animal trying to ambush it from behind!

Hua Hua was already terrified by the baboon, and she thought that she was doomed and would definitely be caught by the baboon.

But at this crucial moment, the baboon was suddenly attacked by some animal, and it had no chance to catch the lion cub in front of it.

The baboon was terrified. It wondered if the adult lions of the pride had returned, especially the male lion, which looked particularly frightening. If that male lion attacked the baboon now, the baboon would be in grave danger.

The baboon couldn't care less about Hua Hua now; it needed to quickly turn around and see what kind of animal had attacked it. Hua Hua took the opportunity to escape.

But when the baboon turned around, it was very surprised. Because what attacked it was not an adult lion at all, but a cub, a cub not much bigger than the one from before.

"Hmph! It's just a little lion cub. It scared me half to death. I thought it was some kind of adult lion!" The baboon was no longer nervous as it looked at Chu Ye.

"Hehe! It's another little lion too. Well then, I won't eat the previous little lion. Since this little lion dared to ambush me, I'll make you my appetizer!" The baboon no longer cared where Hua Hua had run off to; it changed its target to the little lion in front of it.

Chu Ye first grabbed the baboon, and after it safely gave up on Hua Hua, he hid to the side. He just wanted to play with this baboon.

The baboon was furious when it saw that Chu Ye dared to ambush it. After Hua Hua ran away, it began to attack Chu Ye.

Chu Ye first hid to the side, and when he saw the baboon coming to attack him, he deliberately ran away into the distance.

Seeing Chu Ye run away, the baboon gave chase. It wasn't about to let Chu Ye go. Since Chu Ye dared to attack it, it was determined to catch him this time to vent its anger.

Chu Ye pretended to run away, letting the baboon chase after him. Instead of running towards the lion cubs, Chu Ye ran towards the baboon's territory.

When the baboon saw Chu Ye running towards their territory, it was overjoyed and immediately chased after him.