Scientists have long been suspecting that animals can both create and use tools to solve problems in their natural environment. In contrast, the tool use had been concerned as a defining feature of human beings. It is obvious animals can’t manufacture as sophisticated tools as humans do, although discovery of using twigs, shells or rocks by them caused redefinition of tool and human as such. Even though they still don’t hire any tools in this article we will unmask three remarkable fauna representatives that use tools: Chimpanzees, Bottlenose Dolphins and New Caledonian Crows.
Chimpanzees are very creative for all kinds of jobs
It will not be surprising that first animal perceived as tool user is belonging to primates chimpanzee. It was in 1960 at Gombe National Park (Tanzania). Primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, observed two chimpanzees pick up small twigs, strip off the leaves, and use them as tools to capture termites, which are buried underground in sealed mounds of dirt called termite mounds.
Further research showed chimpanzees also use different tools in different areas for instance to drink water from holes in trees. Since water is often too deep for them to reach with their mouths so they must find other ways to access it. Some chimps chew up leaves and spit them out to make an absorbent sponge which they then use to suck up the water. Other use tools like a straw to drink water from these holes.
Moreover, wild chimpanzee mothers teach their offspring to use tools what has been captured in the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo.
Now we must redefine tool, redefine Man, or accept chimpanzees as humans.
nDr. Louis Leakey
Dolphins – hallmark of intelligence
Probably only humans spend more time using tools than dolphins. Those in Shark Bay, Australia, have developed an unusual and intelligent hunting strategy. Researchers observed there that bottlenose dolphins carry marine sponges in their beaks when foraging bottom of the ocean looking for a prey.
According the US scientists an ability to modify an object to create a tool, and then use it for a specific purpose is a significant sign of intelligence. Dolphins are already good at catching fish, even though they don’t need tools, they have discovered this sponge makes their job easier. Shark Bay dolphins have also been spotted using conch shells to trap fish, then shaking their catch into their mouths. It is believed that a single dolphin discovered this foraging technique by chance and, alike chimpanzees, then passed it on to her offspring.
You might say both dolphins and apes are mammals, thus because of size of their brains are smart. So, let’s have a look at the kingdom of birds.
New Caledonian Crow astonished scientists
New Caledonian Crows are able not only to use small twigs as a tool but also manufacture them by breaking either twigs or leaves. These Crows craft a long hook tool to extract insects from dead logs.
In 2002 researchers at the University of Oxford presented a captive New Caledonian crow – called Betty – and an out-of-reach bucket of food. To retrieve it, she bent a piece of wire into a hook – the first time such tool-making skills had been seen in the animal world.
Obviously not only animals mentioned use tools, but undeniably this skill make them remarkable. At this point we should think, if the use of tools is an evidence of intelligence? how smart are we to hire out our tools? 🙂
Happy hiring!
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