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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."

3 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: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.