Chimpanzees 'hunt using spears'

BBC News ^ | 22 February 2007

[Abathar]

Chimpanzees in Senegal have been observed making and using wooden spears to hunt other primates, according to a study in the journal Current Biology. Researchers documented 22 cases of chimps fashioning tools to jab at smaller primates sheltering in cavities of hollow branches or tree trunks.

The report's authors, Jill Pruetz and Paco Bertolani, said the finding could have implications for human evolution.

Chimps had not been previously observed hunting other animals with tools.

Pruetz and Bertolani made the discovery at their research site in Fongoli, Senegal, between March 2005 and July 2006.

"There were hints that this behavior might occur, but it was one time at a different site," said Jill Pruetz, assistant professor of anthropology at Iowa State University, US.

"While in Senegal for the spring semester, I saw about 13 different hunting bouts. So it really is habitual."

Jabbing weapon

Chimpanzees were observed jabbing the spears into hollow trunks or branches, over and over again. After the chimp removed the tool, it would commonly smell or lick it.

In the vast majority of cases, the chimps used the tools in the manner of a spear, not as probes. The researchers say they were using enough force to injure an animal that may have been hiding inside.

In one case, Pruetz and Bertolani witnessed a chimpanzee extract a bushbaby with a spear.

In most cases, the Fongoli chimpanzees carried out four or more steps to manufacture spears for hunting.

In all but one of the cases, chimps broke off a living branch to make their tool. They would then trim the side branches and leaves.

In a number of cases, chimps also trimmed the ends of the branch and stripped it of bark. Some chimps also sharpened the tip of the tool with their teeth.

Adult males have long been regarded as the hunters in chimp groups.

But the authors of the paper in Current Biology said females and juveniles were seen exhibiting this behaviour more frequently than adult males.

[cdbull23]

Hahahaha, good one. That's a classic episode. Homer the Astronaut!

[Always Independent]

Sorry, but isn't it Simba?

[Abathar]

"Long retired from "acting" and now living at a primate sanctuary in - where else? - Palm Springs, Calif., Cheeta celebrated his world-record 74th birthday Sunday. He's said by the folks at the Guinness Book of World Records to be the world's oldest chimp. Few are known to have lived past the age 50 According to National Public Radio, in retirement Cheeta has become an avid painter. Best known for his roles alongside Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan in the Tarzan movies, Cheeta first appeared on screen in 1934 and had parts in 12 flicks. Weissmuller died in 1984, at the age of 79. O'Sullivan died in 1998, at the age of 87. "

[org.whodat]

What would you call breaking the stick off, stripping it down, and chewing it sharp and then using that end to stab a living creature to kill it?

A fantasy, they have been sticking twigs into termite mounts forever and licking off termites if there are any on the stick.

[hosepipe]

[.. What would you call breaking the stick off, stripping it down, and chewing it sharp and then using that end to stab a living creature to kill it? ..]

(A)Co-incidence.. or (B)accident.. or watching another chimp do A or B.. Shaking bushes is chimp instinct to release emotion or frustration.. one branch of a bush would happen when it broke off.. Chewing could also be because of frustration or emotional release..

SPEARS.. are not chewed branches.. UNless you want them to be..
Some humans believe what ever they want to believe, like liberals..
Logic is only used accidently..

Some humans believe Giuliani is a conservative.. because they want to..

[Junior]

Stabbing with a stick is NOT using a spear..

Tell that to the Zulus who wiped out the 24th in 1879.

The throwing spear is a relatively recent invention. When our ancestors (or even Neanderthals) hunted, they used stabbing spears.

[hosepipe]

[.. Tell that to the Zulus who wiped out the 24th in 1879. ..]

Zulus were not monkeys/apes.. they were RAP artists with a similar dance..
And almost identical social habits..

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Wow, they'd overwhelm the French Army.

LOL!

[lakeman]

sea otters use rocks some bird uses rocks to break eggs chimps use sticks. I have kids and watch to much animal planet lol

[Junior]

Zulus were not monkeys/apes.. they were RAP artists with a similar dance.. And almost identical social habits..

Geez. That's one of the most racist posts I've seen on FR. The Zulus were one of the most organized societies in southern Africa, and had an empire to prove it.

[Always Independent]

Thanks. Sorry right after I posted reply I realized that cheeta was the chimp and that Simba I believe was his elephant friend.

[Junior]

True.. but we're talking about savages.. like American Indians(both groups).. Whom preyed on each other like hyenas or even parasites.. As they still do in Africa to this day.. American Indians are too intermarried/assimilated to be total savages..

So, just what handle do you use at Stormfront?

[hosepipe]

[.. So, just what handle do you use at Stormfront? ..]

What are they white nazi's?..

There so many nazi's these days.. black ones, hispanic ones, female ones, lawyerly ones, even jewish ones... For sure there are muslim ones..

But then, thats what this article is all about.. black ones..
The train is leaving for Chaosville.... ALL ABOARD...

[dighton]

Odd lure, but if it does the trick . . .

[ahayes]

True.. but we're talking about savages.. like American Indians(both groups).. Whom preyed on each other like hyenas or even parasites.. As they still do in Africa to this day.. American Indians are too intermarried/assimilated to be total savages..

"Blood will out", eh? I'm so confused. I thought we evil evolutionists were supposed to be the racists. Stop changing the rules on me!

[hosepipe]

[.. I thought we evil evolutionists were supposed to be the racists. ..]

Racism?.. The truth is the truth.. and honesty is honesty..
Lies always smell the same.. like bull squeeze..

[montag813]

Chimps may have seen humans using spears. They are masters of mimickery. So long as existing chimps keep doing it, the practice should survive.

[Junior]

Chimps may have seen humans using spears. They are masters of mimickery. So long as existing chimps keep doing it, the practice should survive.

Maybe, but the spear has not been a weapon in that region of Africa for some time, and the chimps have just started using spears (or so it seems).

Methinks it's even more simple -- chimps have long used pointed sticks to spear termite mounds to eat termites. The fact the chimps hunting with spears jab the spear into the brush or a hole in the tree and then lick the stick seems to be an outgrowth of the termite mound maneuver.

[LibertarianSchmoe]

chimps have long used pointed sticks to spear termite mounds to eat termites. The fact the chimps hunting with spears jab the spear into the brush or a hole in the tree and then lick the stick seems to be an outgrowth of the termite mound maneuver.

Yes, but that's micro-tool-making, which we all know is possible.

;?)