Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

Chimpanzees Teach Tool Use to Youngsters Through Transfers

New research reveals that adult chimpanzees actively teach tool-use skills to younger individuals by transferring tools and food, a behavior that benefits the learner at a cost to the teacher.

Scientists analyzed footage from wildlife cameras in Senegal, documenting 33 instances of tool transfers and four instances of food transfers among wild western chimpanzees. These transfers occurred during activities like fishing for ants, algae, and termites, and cracking open baobab fruit.

The majority of transfers involved relatives, with mothers being the most frequent givers of tools to their offspring. Adults were the primary givers, while infants were the most common recipients.

Specific examples include a mother guiding her daughter to a stick used for ant fishing, and another mother providing baobab fruits to her infant, who then observed an older juvenile successfully crack one open.

Researchers suggest these transfers facilitate learning by providing opportunities for observation and supervised practice, helping young chimps access difficult-to-obtain foods.

The study aligns with criteria for teaching in animal behavior research, as the behavior benefits the pupil's learning opportunities despite a cost to the teacher.

While these findings offer insights into chimpanzee social learning, further research is needed to understand the extent of teaching across different chimpanzee communities, habitats, and skill complexities.

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