Baoba
| Baoba バオバ Baoba | |
 Baoba and Lyra | |
| Gender | Male |
|---|---|
| Hometown | Unknown, possibly Fuchsia City |
| Region | Kanto, Johto |
| Generation | I, III, and IV |
| Games | Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed, LeafGreen, HeartGold and SoulSilver |
Baoba (Japanese: バオバ) is a non-player character that first appeared in Pokémon Red and Blue. At that time, he was the owner and warden of the Kanto Safari Zone in Fuchsia City and was known simply as Safari Zone Warden. (Japanese: 園長 Park Head). He also used to be nicknamed Warden Slowpoke, due to his vacant look. In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver it was revealed that the warden had built a new Safari Zone west of Cianwood City.
The warden has also appeared in the anime, where he was named Kaiser.
In the games
The warden plays the same role in each of Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed, and LeafGreen. He is first encountered in his house east Fuchsia City's Pokémon Center. When spoken with, he can only mumble: the false teeth he wears have been lost deep in the Safari Zone. If they are returned to him, he will reward the finder with HM04 (Strength).
To encourage interest in the Safari Zone, the Warden runs a special promotion. Pokémon Trainers who are able to locate the Secret House at the far end of the Zone within the allotted step limit were given HM03 (Surf). This Hidden Machine is required to progress to Cinnabar Island.
The locals of Fuchsia City nicknamed him "Warden Slowpoke" because of his vacant look similar to that of a Slowpoke. Despite this, he's actually very knowledgeable about Pokémon. He takes care of all the Pokémon in the Safari Zone and Zoo, and has a large collection of Pokémon Fossils as well. The warden is good friends with Koga, the Gym Leader of Fuchsia City. Koga will sometimes patrol the Safari Zone as security.
Three years after the initial defeat of Team Rocket, Baoba closes the Safari Zone and goes traveling. In Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal the Safari Zone simply cannot be accessed; however, in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver a Pal Park is in its place. On his travels, Baoba decides to open a new Safari Zone in Johto; the site he chooses is at the northern end of Route 48. As part of the games' plot, the player will meet with Baoba on Route 39, who promises to inform the player as soon as the Safari Zone is open for business. He will call, announcing the opening of the Safari Zone, once Amphy the Ampharos of Glitter Lighthouse has been healed.
Throughout the remainder of the game, Baoba will issue two challenges to the player: catch a Geodude in the Safari Zone and catch a Sandshrew in the Safari Zone. By completing these challenges, the Safari Zone will gradually become customizable, and the player will be able to arrange the six areas in any way he or she chooses. The amount and variety of Pokémon available will also change. Baoba will always call the player via the Pokégear to announce that these changes have been activated.
In the anime
The Safari Zone warden is known as Kaiser in the anime, because he had no official first name when his episode was made. He appeared in the thirty-fifth episode. He found a Dratini in the Safari Zone as a boy, but as a result of media hype surrounding the event the Dratini retreated into a lake and Kaiser resolved to protecting the Safari Zone and the Pokémon that live within it. Professor Oak states that he knows the warden well.
When Ash and friends visit the Safari Zone, Kaiser acts violently because he fears they may harm the Pokémon within. He aims a gun at Ash, which led the episode to be banned worldwide. It has not been aired in any country other than Japan.
In the manga
The Safari Zone warden appears in the sixth chapter of Pokémon Zensho. His role in the manga follows the plot of Red and Blue: the warden loses his teeth in the Safari Zone and the protagonist, Satoshi, retrieves them. While he is searching for the teeth, Satoshi sees a Slowpoke, and is reminded of the warden.
Trivia
- It is possible that the missing dentures the player must find is inspired from the Ape Inc. RPG Mother, where the player must find the Healers Dentures so people can understand him.
In other languages
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | バオバ Baoba | バオバブ Baobabu, Baobab (Adansonia). |
| English | Baoba | Same as Japanese name. |
| German | Baoba | Same as Japanese name. |
| Spanish | Baoba | Same as Japanese name. |
| Korean | 바오바 Baoba | Same as Japanese name. |
Professor Oak • Mom (Kanto) • Mom (LGPE) • Red • Blue • Green • Trace • Daisy • Old man • Bill • Celio • Mr. Fuji • Safari Zone Warden • Copycat • Primo • Koichi
Pokémon Fan Club Chairman • Erik and Sara • Lostelle • Teala • Selphy • Cal • Steven Stone • Maylene • Mina • Cameron • Mr. Game • Morimoto
Team Rocket • Gym guide • Gym Leaders • Elite Four • Professors' aides • Magikarp salesman • Name Rater • Day-Care Person • Mr. Hyper
Professor Elm • Professor Oak • Mom • Ethan • Lyra • Silver • Mr. Pokémon • Eusine • Lance • Red • Kiyo • Baoba • Magnus • Earl • Kurt • Carrie • Dude
Mary • Buena • Radio Director • Haircut brothers • Webster • Master • Li • Wilma • Primo • Maximo • Jet • Caitlin • Cynthia • Cameron • Mr. Game • Felicity • Teala
Team Rocket • Gym guide • Gym Leaders • Frontier Brains • Kimono Girls • Week Siblings • Name Rater • Poké Seer • Day-Care Couple • Professors' aides
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This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games. |
