Tool use?

• by puddock

  The second chimp here appears to use a stick as a scratcher - any thoughts?

  Posted June 16, 2018 3:39 PM

• by Boleyn moderator

  Interesting scene, thanks @puddock for asking this question. I wonder too what he does with that stick. I hope @NuriaM will have an explanation!

  Posted June 17, 2018 2:59 PM

• by MimiA scientist, moderator

  I also think its being used as a scratcher, but I am going to ask around if anyone else has some insights 😃

  Posted June 25, 2018 9:04 PM

• by akalan scientist

  This is pretty cool, the chimp briefly scratches himself with it and then places it between his thigh and body, chimps often use this natural 'pocket' as an additional way to carry or hold objects. He might be saving that piece of wood for later although it's hard to see because the view is blocked.

  Posted June 25, 2018 9:24 PM

• by maureenmccarthy scientist, moderator

  I agree! There is a brief scratch, and then he "pockets" it. This is also sometimes referred to as the 'pelvic pocket' or 'hip pocket' and it's a pretty cool way to be able to hang onto something you want to save for later. 😃

  Posted June 26, 2018 10:42 AM

• by Boleyn moderator

  Thank you ladies!

  Posted June 28, 2018 12:39 PM

• by AnLand moderator

  So, it's a tool although the chimp would not actually need it for its goal (scratching himself)? We've seen several instances that the chimps here "stored" or carried some wood and I was always under the impression, they were more interested in it as a food item, not for anything else. Isn't the enabling part important for the tool use? (I have really no idea here. It's just a question.)

  Posted June 28, 2018 1:50 PM

• by NuriaM scientist, moderator

  Awesome!

  elephants also show this "hoarding behaviour" with food or sticks/vegetation used as tools: they hold food/stick between the trunk and a tusk, to be eaten/used later. They may eat other food while holding some between the trunk and one tusk.

  Posted June 29, 2018 6:42 AM

• by MimiA scientist, moderator in response to AnLand's comment.

  we generally do not consider scratching oneself tool use as the classical definitions either require the tool to not be used on the animal itsself or that the orientation of the tool is an important part of the tool use : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003347208000122

  he very well could be pocketing it for consumption and simply scratching before its use, without more video, we can't really know.

  Posted July 2, 2018 11:22 PM

• by puddock

  That's really interesting - hadn't heard of 'pocketing' before - thanks!

  Posted July 4, 2018 9:10 PM

• by Boleyn moderator

  Blondie is also pocketing some wood in ACP000dr90 😃

  @MimiA, Should we install a new tag for pocketing?

  Posted July 5, 2018 12:17 PM

• by puddock

  Nice spot!

  Posted July 5, 2018 2:13 PM