The Uaso Ngiro Baboon Project (previously the Gilgil Baboon Project) grew out of the long-term observation of a population of baboons that originally lived in the Rift Valley of Kenya near Lake Elementeita.  Three of these baboon troops were translocated in 1984 to the Eastern Laikipia Plateau.

UNBP was the first primate project to employ local Kenyans as “para-biologists" and “para-ecologists." For more than 28 years, Kenyan research assistants have collected the majority of UNBP data. 

In addition, many American, British and Kenyan graduate students have completed their Masters or PhD projects with UNBP.  American and European interns also gain experience in field research and community based conservation in this real world setting.