Re:In a first, chimpanzees seen smashing and eating tortoises
by thrower123 on Thursday May 23, 2019 @05:31PM
(#19996203)
I'm a little flabbergasted that the idea of animals using tools is so groundbreaking. I've seen squirrels pick apples up off the ground, climb to the top of a tree, and drop the apple over and over again to break it into small convenient pieces. I've seen birds do the same thing too, with shellfish. You see all kinds of stuff when you have your eyes open.
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Re:In a first, chimpanzees seen smashing and eating tortoises
by nipponese on Thursday May 23, 2019 @05:40PM
(#19996284)
Wait until chimps figure out how to refine oil and use combustion engines.
Re:In a first, chimpanzees seen smashing and eating tortoises
by angstrom on Thursday May 23, 2019 @06:01PM
(#19996464)
When you consider the effort to get to that stage of locomotion it's amazing that flying birds haven't advanced faster technologically.
Re:In a first, chimpanzees seen smashing and eating tortoises
by emmelaich on Thursday May 23, 2019 @10:47PM
(#19998042)
I guess birds (and most animals) have a hit a local minimum that they'll never climb out of.
Re:In a first, chimpanzees seen smashing and eating tortoises
by Kye on Thursday May 23, 2019 @11:12PM
(#19998158)
Humans got lucky with figuring out fire. Fire simplifies everything.
Re:In a first, chimpanzees seen smashing and eating tortoises
by SketchySeaBeast on Thursday May 23, 2019 @05:36PM
(#19996254)
I don't think it's the tool use, its the specific tool use - they are observing a new behaviour. It's not that they assumed they couldn't (I mean, look up "Chimps using tools" on youtube), it's just a novel behaviour, which is neat to see. It's not something groundbreaking, it's just notable.