They haven't produced a computer yet, but chimapanzees are pretty good toolmakers. The big secret? Females chimps are better with tools than males!
", "is_us_only": "false", "title": "Chimps and Tools", "url": "http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/animals/mammals-animals/apes/chimp_tools/", "country_code_deny_list": [], "allowUserEmbed": "True", "related": { "link": [ { "url": "http://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/chimpanzee.html", "name": "Learn More About Chimpanzees" }, { "url": "http://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/photos/chimps.html", "name": "Get Chimpanzee Photos" } ] }, "credit": "National Geographic", "smil": "http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/data/xml/chimp_tools.smil", "country_code_allow_list": [], "HTML5src": "/video/player/media-mp4/chimp_tools/mp4/variant-playlist.m3u8", "still": "http://video.nationalgeographic.com/exposure/transcode/0/480/360/?url=http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/media/chimp_tools/chimp_tools_480x360.jpg", "transcript": "What allegedly separates humans from the so-called \u201clower animals\u201d? Supposedly, it\u2019s 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 \u2013 like this one who is learning how to use a stick.
Female chimps demonstrate how it\u2019s 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\u2019s complicated. Let this chimpanzee mom give a lesson in the fine art of finding, and then eating safari ants.
First, mom uses a \u2018wand\u2019 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\u2019t know how to eat them, they sting like crazy.[iv]
Now here\u2019s what not to do \u2013 try to get safari ants \u2013 get frustrated \u2013 put hand in hole, and get stung not once but twice.
Now here\u2019s how it\u2019s done \u2013 get ants on stick, and gobble them down, zippity-quick!
These aren\u2019t 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? \u2018nuff said.!!!
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