Final answer:
Chimpanzees use various tools, including twigs for termite fishing, sharpened sticks as spears for hunting, and stones as hammers to crack open nuts, demonstrating their problem-solving abilities and intelligence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chimpanzees are well-known for their tool use and problem-solving abilities. In 1960, primatologist Jane Goodall observed chimpanzees in the wild using tools, marking a significant discovery in our understanding of animal behavior. One of the most commonly cited examples of chimps' tool use is termite fishing, where they strip leaves from twigs and use the altered twig to extract termites from their mounds. However, their tool use extends beyond this.
Chimpanzees have also been observed using sharpened sticks as spears for hunting small animals and using stones as hammers to crack open nuts. These behaviors are not just instinctual; they require insight and the ability to learn from experience, demonstrating a level of intelligence that is remarkable in the animal kingdom.
At Gombe National Park in Tanzania, for instance, chimps have developed a unique set of hunting techniques and tool usage, which differs from their relatives in other habitats. This underscores the adaptive nature of their tool use and their capacity to modify behaviors based on the environment.