Chimps observed creating and using tools.

From National Geographic. Article can be found here:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/04/chimps-with-spears/mary-roach-text

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• chimps
• champanzees
• monkeys
• humans
• evolution
• atheism
• atheist
• tools
• nature
• national
• geographic

[JCReiki]

An easier approach some chimps use is to get a bigger, stronger stick, jab a hole into the nest (to attract and anger the termites). Then they follow up with a smaller stick with a threaded end (they bite and break apart the fibers), and they jab it into the hole of angry soldier termites. Because the end is threaded apart, more termites can grab onto it, so it's really an ingenious method of theirs! ^^

[Dewnis]

Truly amazing.

[monopita]

@squagglenater everything is evolving all the time, only at different rates. High intelligence is rare and energetically expensive, and not necessary to survive. Intelligence is not a goal, in fact there is no goal at all anywhere, it's all about perdurance. Bacteria are known to evolve at very fast rates, insects and even birds have shown evolution in a lab. But look no further than the rice you eat, or your pets, they have all been artificially selected by humans to "evolve" traits we like.

[monopita]

@juiced9528 If you notice, the chimps are rarely exposed to direct sunlight, our ancestors similarly could have looked for that protection, even a snail can do that. But for those moments that our African ancestors were exposed to UV rays, most scientists agree that they developed dark skin (melanine). Those humans who moved to Europe and other colder locations needed more UV rays to synthesize vitamin D, hence the transparent skin we "whites" have.

[juiced9528]

If man evolved on earth then common sense says the sun wouldn't cause us harm,we would be immune to uv rays .explain that.

[squagglenater]

howcome no animals evolve anymore, it seems like humans evolved a great amount but no animal has gained any brain power or anything

[fimpen3]

Really is amazing

[wollin20]

@JCReiki Yes, this is an amazing jungle survival knowledge! It shows that they did a first step towards more specialized tools. I'd love to know more on their culturally transmitted knowledge on their environment (Which plants are edible or not, how other animals behave and how to react with them, etc.), their cultures go much further than their tool kits. Chimpanzees are highly adaptable, provided they live in a safe environment (with trees or without ground predators) with some edible fruit.

[wollin20]

Even if I know we haven't evolved from common chimpanzees or bonobos, each time I see a documentary on them, I can't help thinking of our ancestors. Observing australopithecines is unfortunately impossible and their behaviour was certainly different, somehow more human (in terms of food sharing, sexuality, altruism, tool making, etc.), but these quadrupedal animals are the closest we can get. That's why I find non-human apes so fascinating!

[Joyness333]

OMG they're eating the termites!

[pv5454]

@strikeme5 wtf who says that in 5 years there gunna make fire??

[imarchello]

riiiight... On what basis?