Chimpanzees Teach Young Ones to Use Tools
Chimpanzees can teach young individuals how to use tools, as revealed by research in the Dindefelo Nature Reserve in Senegal.
From 2017 to 2025, researchers collected 15 hours of footage, documenting 33 instances of tool transfer. In 58% of cases, chimpanzees shared sticks for ant fishing, in 30% for algae gathering, and in 12% for termite extraction.
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Most tool transfers were made by adult females, with 42% of recipients being infants. A third of all transfers occurred between mothers and their offspring, aiding young chimpanzees in mastering complex techniques.
In February 2018, a female named Sukki demonstrated to her infant, Saisai, how to extract ants. In December 2021, infant Fotty learned to crack open a baobab fruit with the help of a young male. These observations confirm the transmission of skills between generations of chimpanzees.
