Documentary Description
Chimpanzees in Senegal make and sharpen spears with their teeth to
go hunting. Like our own ancestors they have learned to use tools to
kill their quarry more effectively.
They use their
colossal strength to thrust their spears into holes in trees where they
suspect nocturnal bushbabies are sleeping. In another part of Africa a young chimp lowers himself gingerly into
a cooling pool and squealing with excitement - in exactly the same way
as a human child would. Apes are supposed to be afraid of water but
this one is actively using the water as a tool to enjoy a dip.
In
controlled laboratory experiments another chimpanzee called Judy
quickly learns how to use a complex series of manoeuvres, turning
wheels and pulling handles in order, to obtain a piece of fruit from a
specially constructed wooden slot machine. But even more remarkably
other chimps watch her success and then learn the skill themselves.
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