Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) tool use in the Ngotto Forest, Central African Republic

Hicks, Thurston C.; Fouts, Roger S.; Fouts, Deborah H.

doi:10.1002/ajp.20111

Cited by 35 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 24 publications

(31 reference statements)

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“…Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Tanzania, it is less common for chimpanzees to use a tool to dig or pry open subterranean hives (Deblauwe 2006;Fay and Carroll 1994;Fowler and Sommer 2007;Goodall 1986;Hicks et al 2005). Researchers have observed chimpanzees using a tool as a lever to widen the access point to extract honey in Tanzania, Central African Republic, Gabon, and Republic of Congo (Bermejo and Illera 1999;Fay and Carroll 1994;Hicks et al 2005;Sanz and Morgan 2007;Tutin et al 1995;Wallauer, pers.…”

Section: Goualougo Roc (This Study)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Researchers have observed chimpanzees using a tool as a lever to widen the access point to extract honey in Tanzania, Central African Republic, Gabon, and Republic of Congo (Bermejo and Illera 1999;Fay and Carroll 1994;Hicks et al 2005;Sanz and Morgan 2007;Tutin et al 1995;Wallauer, pers. comm.…”

Section: Goualougo Roc (This Study)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on the geographical distribution of particular behaviors (Fig. 1), Hicks et al (2005) hypothesized that there are regional honey-gathering traditions among wild chimpanzees. However, it is important to define tool-using behaviors more precisely so that observers can accurately identify similarities and differences between sites (Table III).…”

Section: Goualougo Roc (This Study)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(Fay and Carroll 1994); NG = Ngotto, C.A.R. (Hicks et al 2005); LN = Loango, Gabon (Boesch et al in press; Boesch, pers. comm.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Flexible and Persistent Tool-using Strategies in Honey-gathering by Wild Chimpanzees

2009

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Several populations of wild chimpanzees use tools to raid bee nests, but preliminary observations of chimpanzees in the Congo Basin indicate that they may have developed sophisticated technical solutions to gather honey that differ from those of apes in other regions. Despite the lack of habituated groups within the range of the central subspecies, there have been several reports of different types of tools used by chimpanzees to open beehives and gather honey. Researchers have observed some of these behaviors (honey dipping) in populations of western and eastern chimpanzees, whereas others (hive pounding) may be limited to this region. Toward evaluating hypotheses of regional tool using patterns, we provide the first repeated direct observations and systematic documentation of tool use in honey-gathering by a population of Pan troglodytes troglodytes. Between 2002 and 2006, we observed 40 episodes of tool use in honey-gathering by chimpanzees in the Goualougo Triangle, Republic of Congo. Pounding was the most common and successful strategy to open beehives. Chimpanzees at this site used several tools in a single tool-using episode and could also attribute multiple functions to a single tool. They exhibited flexibility in responses toward progress in opening a hive and hierarchical structuring of tool sequences. Our results support suggestions of regional tool using traditions in honeygathering, which could be shaped by variation in bee ecology across the chimpanzee range. Further, we suggest that these chimpanzees may have an enhanced propensity to use tool sets that could be related to other aspects of their tool repertoire. Clearly, there is still much to be learned about the behavioral diversity of chimpanzees residing within the Congo Basin.

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Section: Goualougo Roc (This Study)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Goualougo Roc (This Study)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Goualougo Roc (This Study)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(Fay and Carroll 1994); NG = Ngotto, C.A.R. (Hicks et al 2005); LN = Loango, Gabon (Boesch et al in press; Boesch, pers. comm.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Flexible and Persistent Tool-using Strategies in Honey-gathering by Wild Chimpanzees

2009

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“…Wild chimpanzees use tools of different dimensions for different tasks (e.g., Boesch & Boesch, 990, 993;Hicks, Fouts, & Fouts, 2005;Nishida, 972). This has been taken as evidence for selectivity and 'mental representation' of task demands (Boesch & Boesch,993;Visalberghi,993).…”

Section: Development Of Pandanus Tool Manufacturementioning

confidence: 99%

Tool-Related Cognition in New Caledonian Crows

Bluff

Weir

Rutz

et al. 2006

ccbr

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The extent to which non-humans understand their physical world is controversial, due to conceptual and empirical difficulties. We examine the evidence for physical understanding in the remarkable tool-oriented behaviour of New Caledonian crows, which make several types of tool in the wild and show prolific tool-related behaviour in captivity. We summarize our own research into the cognitive processes involved in tool behaviour in this species, and review comparable studies in other birds and primates. Our main laboratory findings are: tool-related behaviour emerges in juvenile crows that had no opportunity to learn from others; adult crows can make or select tools of the appropriate length or diameter for tasks; and one crow, at least, can bend and unbend novel material to match task requirements. Although these observations are striking, they do not prove that this species is capable of understanding physical causality, as one cannot exclude explanations based on inherited proclivities, associative learning, and generalisation. Despite this, we argue that the conventional mechanisms become less likely as such observations accumulate. We conclude that while no adequate, non-verbal test for understanding exists, continued work with New Caledonian crows will help us to ask the right questions.

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Chimpanzees prey on army ants with specialized tool set

Sanz

Schöning

Morgan

2009

American J Primatol

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Several populations of chimpanzees have been reported to prey upon Dorylus army ants. The most common tool-using technique to gather these ants is with "dipping" probes, which vary in length with regard to aggressiveness and lifestyle of the prey species. We report the use of a tool set in army ant predation by chimpanzees in the Goualougo Triangle, Republic of Congo. We recovered 1,060 tools used in this context and collected 25 video recordings of chimpanzee tool-using behavior at ant nests. Two different types of tools were distinguished based on their form and function. The chimpanzees use a woody sapling to perforate the ant nest, and then a herb stem as a dipping tool to harvest the ants. All of the species of ants preyed upon in Goualougo are present and consumed by chimpanzees at other sites, but there are no other reports of such a regular or widespread use of more than one type of tool to prey upon Dorylus ants. Furthermore, this tool set differs from other types of tool combinations used by chimpanzees at this site for preying upon termites or gathering honey. Therefore, we conclude that these chimpanzees have developed a specialized method for preying upon army ants, which involves the use of an additional tool for opening nests. Further research is needed to determine which specific ecological and social factors may have shaped the emergence and maintenance of this technology.

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Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) tool use in the Ngotto Forest, Central African Republic

Cited by 35 publications

References 24 publications

Flexible and Persistent Tool-using Strategies in Honey-gathering by Wild Chimpanzees

Flexible and Persistent Tool-using Strategies in Honey-gathering by Wild Chimpanzees

Tool-Related Cognition in New Caledonian Crows

Chimpanzees prey on army ants with specialized tool set

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