I think humans have overestimated their own intelligence and greatly underestimated that of other species. We seem to judge the intelligence of others based on our standards of measurement (i.e. can we teach them tricks or can they invent or use a tool) instead of some objective means.
I have some family members who are lefties and I have serious doubts about their intellect. I call their condition "willful idiocy." It appears to be a choice they make to swim with the cultural current.
I don't think they would last but a few days in a challenging environment like that faced by, say, the squirrels around my house. Those squirrels (and my cats) manipulate the hell our of me. I fall for their tricks 9 times out of 10.
I seem to recall that some genetic tricks have been done so that some other organism can produce spider silk which is very strong. Regarding squirrels, we finally live trapped them, drove over a wide bridge and then released them a mile up the road. Have not seen them since.