Posted by A small town in South Africa is overrun by a troop of rambunctious baboons, so Nat Geo WILD has undertaken a simian social experiment of a lifetime to understand their behavior. We’ve built a house designed to study the baboons so we can learn how to keep them out of homes and coexist peacefully with their human counterparts… all while having a little fun along the way as we observe these baboons having free reign over a posh house. As we watch these baboons day after day, their personalities and differences really begin to take shape. We put together this handy little guide for you to get to know the stars of the Big Baboon House.
Who’s your favorite baboon in the troop? Be sure to check out video clips from the upcoming series to see them in action.
RAMBO 
Rambo is a muscular, dominant male. He’s street smart and a bully who makes others do his dirty work. He likes to be in charge and has no problem using force to get what he wants. But he’s also lazy, often choosing to sit out food competitions, knowing the can beat the treats out of the winner later. Nookie is his main squeeze.
ROCKY
Rocky is a dominant male but not the brightest bulb in the chandelier. While no rocket scientist, he comes out swinging when his back is against the wall, and is in the mix during every competition. He’s definitely a baboon you’d want on your side in a fight… unless it’s a spelling bee.
LEFTY
Lefty is a submissive male who lost his left arm in fierce battle… or a hunting accident, depending on who you ask. He’s a lovable loner who spends most of the day by himself, foraging for scraps that the others leave behind. Having only one arm has made him clever and he often can do things with one hand that others can’t do with two. He has a passionate love of the theatre, and while he can’t show his appreciation is a traditional manner, he’s always clapping on the inside.
HARRY
Harry is a strong, noble dominant male. He’s an excellent leader, well liked by the other baboons. While others clamor for power, he bides his time and waits until he has a strategic advantage before trying to become Top Banana. He does well with the ladies, and refers to his muscular arms as his “44 Magnums.”
CHEEKY
Cheeky is a young make who’s clever and crafty and often outsmarts the larger, more dominant baboons. His favorite food is oranges and he has a weakness for blondes. He’s also one of the few smaller baboons to trash talk the big boys, knowing he can usually elude them with evasive maneuvers.
ZIGGY & RAY
Ziggy & Ray are a loving and committed couple who are always seen together. They hope to one day make their union legal, even though some of their troop mates don’t approve of their relationship. But no matter who tries to come between them, Ziggy just can’t quit Ray.
NOOKIE
Nookie is an adult female who is attracted to strong, powerful baboons like Rambo. Or any other hairy hunk who passes by. She’s not above using her feminine wiles to get what she wants from the opposite sex. Or even the same sex. Or Rikki the Mongoose. She doesn’t get much love from her female troop mates, who refer to her as “The Hairy Harlot” and insist she’s had “work” done.
SCAR
Scar is a dominant male and has a “battle wound” under his left eye. He won’t admit it, but some of his troop mates think he got the mark by being clocked with a beer bottle at a Lady Gaga concert. Scar is in the middle of every major battle for top banana, but can’t seem to figure out that brute strength is not enough, and he refuses to play the political game.
RIKKI
Rikki is a mongoose; call him a rodent at your peril. He dreams of a career as a hip-hop artist, but others in the animal kingdom insist he doesn’t have enough “street cred,” having been raised in a middle class bungalow in the suburbs. His hyperactive energy can be annoying, but if a snake shows up he’s a helpful guy to have around.
Check out Big Baboon House, a 3-part mini-series premiering on Saturday, June 23rd at 8P, 9P, and 10P.
July 3, 2012, 9:47 am
January 27, 4:46 pm
