A primatologist sees Mozambique's baboons as key to understanding human evolution. Rassina Farassi studies grey-footed Chacma baboons in Gorongosa National Park. She believes their behavior offers insights into our hominid ancestors.

Farassi works with the Paleo-Primate Project (PPP). The PPP studies fossils and living primates in Gorongosa. In 2017, Farassi joined the project during her archaeology degree. She now spends her time observing baboons in their natural habitat.

The park's fossil sites were unexplored until 2016. Discoveries suggest Gorongosa was once part of East Africa's coastal forests. The PPP curates fossil remains in its palaeontology laboratory.

Gorongosa National Park is crucial for understanding primate evolution. The park contains unexplored fossil sites. Further research will focus on comparing baboon behavior to fossil evidence. This could unlock new knowledge about human origins.