Data from: Extreme behavioural shifts by baboons exploiting risky, resource-rich, human-modified environments

A range of species exploit anthropogenic food resources in behaviour known as ‘raiding’. Such behavioural flexibility is considered a central component of a species’ ability to cope with human-induced environmental changes. Here, we study the behavioural processes by which raiding male chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) exploit the opportunities and mitigate the risks presented by raiding in the suburbs of Cape Town, South Africa. Ecological sampling and interviews conducted with ‘rangers’ (employed to manage the baboons’ space use) revealed that baboons are at risk of being herded out of urban spaces that contain high-energy anthropogenic food sources. Baboon-attached motion/GPS tracking collars showed that raiding male baboons spent almost all of their time at the urban edge, engaging in short, high-activity forays into the urban space. Moreover, activity levels were increased where the likelihood of deterrence by rangers was greater. Overall, these raiding baboons display a time-activity balance that is drastically altered in comparison to individuals living in more remote regions. We suggest our methods can be used to obtain precise estimates of management impact for this and other species in conflict with people.

诸多物种会以"劫掠"（raiding）的行为方式开发人为活动产生的食物资源。这种行为灵活性被认为是物种应对人类活动引发的环境变化的核心能力组成部分。本研究以栖息于南非开普敦郊区的劫掠型雄性查克马狒狒（*Papio ursinus*）为研究对象，解析其在劫掠行为中把握机遇、规避风险的行为过程。针对负责管控狒狒活动范围的"护管员"开展的生态采样与访谈结果显示，狒狒面临被驱逐出包含高能量人为食物源的城市区域的风险。佩戴运动/全球定位系统（GPS）追踪项圈的狒狒监测数据表明，劫掠型雄性狒狒几乎所有时间都栖息在城市边缘，仅会开展短暂、高活跃度的突袭进入城市区域觅食。此外，当护管员实施驱离的可能性越高时，狒狒的活动活跃度也随之提升。总体而言，与栖息于偏远区域的同类相比，这些劫掠型狒狒的时间-活动节律发生了显著改变。我们认为，本研究采用的方法可用于精准评估该物种及其他与人存在冲突的物种的管控效果。