Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Chimps Found Making Own Weapons to Hunt for Food

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the boards-with-nails dept.

Pojut writes "The Washington Post has an article involving chimps and weapons. Apparently, there have been direct observations of chimps in the west African savannah modifying sticks to create spears. They then use these spears to kill small mammals and eat them. It is the first time that an animal other than a human has been directly observed in crafting a weapon for the purpose of hunting or killing."

7 of 410 comments (clear)

  1. But from where... by Marnhinn · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't much care where the chimps evolve to...

    I would like to know if this is a learned behavior from an outside source or if this is simply something they have discovered on their own.

    --
    There is always a frontier where there is an open and willing mind
    1. Re:But from where... by dosquatch · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Making a weapon requires foresight into the possible effects they may have. I seriously doubt chimps have such cognitive skills.

      Even if it is some form of imitation, doesn't that indicate some grasp of the encompassed cause and effect? Some glimmer of said foresight?

      Otters use flat stones to crack open shellfish. Some apes use sticks to fish for termites. Is this really such a stretch?

      --
      "Hey, the third matrix movie would have been good except for the plot,story, and acting." --AC
    2. Re:But from where... by tomhudson · · Score: 4, Insightful

      " It is the first time that an animal other than a human has been directly observed in crafting a weapon for the purpose of hunting or killing."

      Spiders construct webs for hunting and killing. No intelligence required.

    3. Re:But from where... by bitt3n · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Spiders construct webs for hunting and killing. No intelligence required.
      In that case, the purpose of the web is imputed by the observer, in the same way that one might say that the purpose of the otter's oily coat is to allow the coat to repel water, but the otter need not be aware of this purpose for the coat to fulfill it. In the case of the monkey, the purpose of the spear appears to be imputed by the animal itself. That is likely what the article finds significant.
      --
      how many pairs of boxer shorts should you own?
  2. Baboons by flyingfsck · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Even Baboons, which are considerably stupider than Chimpanzees, use rocks to crush shell-fish and have been observed throwing rocks in self defence.

    --
    Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
  3. Re:Semantics by MightyMartian · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If you read the article, you'll find out that some of the chimps are sharpening the ends, and are not merely fishing, but using force to injure the critters they're hunting. It's definitely spearing, though there's no reason to think that this innovation hasn't been developed from the fishing technique. That is no different than virtually all our technologies, which are rooted in earlier ones.

    --
    The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  4. Re:killing animals making tools? by Dunbal · · Score: 5, Insightful

    By no one's definition of the term could creatures who place a truckload of high explosives into a crowded marketplace and blow hundreds of people to meat chunks be considered human.

          Congratulations. Dehumanization is the first important step down the path to genocide. The jews in Nazi Germany weren't "human" either. Carry on.

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.