Scientists from Germany have established that Orangutans are able to use tools for producing food to themselves. So, some of them were able to split nuts with the help of “hammer”. Article researchers Published in American Journal of Primatology.
The use of an object for solving a nut is one of the most complex examples of behavior where tools are used in the animal world. Currently, it is known that only chimpanzees, cappucins and macaques are capable of doing this in the wild.
Researchers from the University of Tubingen discovered that orangutans have this skill. Scientists join the behavior of 12 monkeys – four of the Leipzig and eight of the Zurich zoos. Primates provided nuts, chopping trunk – “hammer” – and a stump that would serve “anvil”. Four orangutans were able to independently and successfully use extended researchers with wooden hammers. However, repeat this action for them – that is, to learn – I failed to anyone, all other individuals used to split the nut with teeth.
“Orangutans themselves were able to develop this comprehensive behavior only through independent training,” the lead author of the study of Eliza Bandini emphasized. Scientists noted that the results of their research refute the idea of the idea that such skills require the transfer of knowledge between individuals.