The drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus) is one of Africa’s most endangered mammals. It is related to baboons and even more closely to mandrills.
The drill is a large baboon with a short tail and a dark grey-brown body. This animal is among the most endangered primates in Africa. Drills exhibit well-defined sexual dimorphism with males, being up to twice as large as females. These forest baboons have pink, mauve, and blue rumps. Adult males are distinguished by pink lower lip as well as a dark grey to black face with a white chin and raised grooves on the nose. Meanwhile, females are identified by lacking the pink chin.
The natural range of this species is restricted to Cameroon, where these animals occur north of the Sanaga river and on the south-western edge of the coastal island of Fernando Poo (Bioko). The Korup National Park in the north of Cameroon holds the largest protected population of drills. The preferred habitat of these primates is mature lowland, coastal and riverine forest. However, they are also known to frequent young secondary forests of their range. They generally look for sheltered areas and avoid open terrains.
