Are Wild Monkeys Inventing Their Own Weapons?

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Chimpanzees in the West African savanna have been observed creating and using spears to hunt small mammals, marking the first instance of non-human animals routinely producing deadly weapons. These chimpanzees employ a "power grip" to jab into tree hollows where bush babies, small monkey-like mammals, rest during the day. Initially considered a rare occurrence, the behavior was documented consistently over 19 days, primarily by female chimpanzees. This discovery highlights advanced tool-making and hunting strategies in non-human primates, suggesting a significant cognitive ability similar to that of humans.
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"Chimpanzees living on the West African savanna have been observed fashioning spears from sticks and using them to hunt small mammals — the first routine production of deadly weapons observed in animals other than humans.

...grasping the weapon in a "power grip," they jabbed into tree-branch hollows where bush babies — small monkey-like mammals — sleep during the day...

Pruetz thought it was a fluke, but then saw similar weapon- making herself "over the course of 19 days almost daily," she said.

It was typically females who displayed the behavior." (read full story).
 
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