Assessment of Oxidative Stress and Biometric Data in a Captive Colony of Hamadryas Baboons (Papio hamadryas Linnaeus, 1758) at the Ravenna Zoo Safari (Italy)

This study examined the health of a group of Hamadryas baboons living in captivity at Ravenna Zoo Safari in Italy. Researchers looked at the animals’ body measurements and levels of oxidative stress—an imbalance in the body between harmful molecules and the systems that defend against them. Forty-eight baboons were checked during routine health procedures. Males were sterilized, and females were checked for pregnancy. Scientists found that, although male and female baboons had different body weights (used as a proxy to classify individuals of unknown age), their levels of oxidative stress were similar. However, pregnant and recently pregnant females showed higher stress levels, likely because of physical changes related to reproduction. In males, certain body measurements were found to be helpful in estimating age, which is useful when birth records are missing. The study found no link between body weight and oxidative stress, suggesting that aging may not strongly affect these markers. These results show the value of monitoring oxidative stress to improve the care of baboons in captivity and better understand how reproduction and aging affect their health. Future research may help develop simple, non-invasive ways to assess animal health and well-being in zoos.