What allegedly separates humans from the so-called “lower animals”? Supposedly, it’s the ability to make and use tools.
However, as you can see here, these chimpanzees make tools, and use them to enjoy a tasty nut-meat meal
Baby chimps begin experimenting at a young age – like this one who is learning how to use a stick.
Female chimps demonstrate how it’s done. Female are markedly better at using tools than males,[i] despite what the males might tell you in private.
It takes ten years for a young chimp to master the art of creating a tool, and using that tool to produce an edible foodstuff.[ii]
And if you think that’s complicated. Let this chimpanzee mom give a lesson in the fine art of finding, and then eating safari ants.
First, mom uses a ‘wand’ selected and pruned for this delicate task.[iii]
Now the deal with safari ants is that they are a rich and delicious food source, but if you don’t know how to eat them, they sting like crazy.[iv]
Now here’s what not to do – try to get safari ants – get frustrated – put hand in hole, and get stung not once but twice.
Now here’s how it’s done – get ants on stick, and gobble them down, zippity-quick!
These aren’t the only tools that chimps have learned to use. This chimp uses a bone pick to get at some tasty marrow.[v]
Here a chimp uses a piece of fruit as a sponge to get every bit of sweetness from the pulp[vi]
And this chimp uses chewed leaves as a sponge to quench a raging thirst.[vii]
Are we humans actually more advanced than chimps? Could you figure out how to eat safari ants without getting eaten alive? ‘nuff said.!!!
