Chimps Observed Making Their Own Weapons

[Ian David]

By Rick Weiss
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 22, 2007; 2:48 PM

Chimpanzees living in the West African savannah have been observed fashioning deadly spears from sticks and using the hand-crafted tools to hunt small mammals -- the first routine production of deadly weapons ever observed in animals other than humans.

The multi-step spear-making practice, documented by researchers in Senegal who spent years gaining the chimpanzees' trust, adds credence to the idea that human forebears fashioned similar tools millions of years ago.

The landmark observation also supports the long-debated proposition that females -- the main makers and users of spears among the Senegalese chimps -- tend to be the innovators and creative problem solvers in primate culture.

Using their hands and teeth, the chimpanzees were repeatedly seen tearing the side branches off long straight sticks, peeling back the bark and sharpening one end, the researchers report in today's on-line issue of the journal Current Biology. Then, grasping the weapon in a "power grip," they jabbed into tree-branch hollows where bush babies -- small monkey-like mammals -- sleep during the day.

More:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/22/AR2007022201007.html?nav=rss_nation/science

[Dr.Phool]

1. I bet they have a nucular weapons program hidden too.

[PreacherCasey]

7. I agree. They need to prove to the animal kingdom that they have disarmed.

[undeterred]

2. Weapons of Moose Destruction?

:shrug:

[RC]

3. They're getting ready to take over from us when we self-destruct.

I can see the last remaining humans in a zoo with chimp families coming to see the animal that had done so much destruction to the world.

[Ignacio Upton]

4. Well, it's technically THEIR species doing the damage

[kestrel91316]

5. They probably saw some human doing it. They're quite clever.

[WindRavenX]

8. what do you think of new research that places corvids...

...as the highest intelligent group of animals? My professor who studies crows has been seeing mounting evidence that in his opinion tops primates.

[kestrel91316]

9. Well, I know crows are very smart. There are some in Japan that

keep track of who (human) has harmed them, and tell their friends, who then help with revenge.

The scrub jays I used to have in my yard (until West nile got them, sob) were very smart.

[WindRavenX]

10. I totally did not hear about the revenge thing

I heard of Tokyo crows learning to time dropping nuts on the streets with the lights so they could be broken...but that revenge thing is bizzaro.

[kestrel91316]

12. Yeah, they were ganging up on and attacking people who had

done wrong to a member of the flock. And it went on for a long time afterward. They hold a grudge and aren't afraid to act on it.

Shades of Stephen King's book Cell.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

6. The Chimps were observed making gestures with their own personal spears

indicating they would screw their enemies in the ass. Scientists were amazed to occasionally hear a primitive sound almost like the name "Bin Laden" shrieked and grunted in conjunction with the threats.

[Lars39]

11. lol

[Virginia Dare]

13. Well, we know what happens next..