Far Side fans might recall a classic 1982 cartoon called “Cow Tools,” featuring a cow standing next to a jumble of strange objects—the joke being that cows don’t use tools. That’s why a pet Swiss brown cow in Austria named Veronika has caused a bit of a sensation: she likes to pick up random sticks and use them to scratch herself. According to a new paper published in the journal Current Biology, this is a form of multipurpose tool use and suggests that the cognitive capabilities of cows have been underestimated by scientists.
As previously reported, tool use was once thought to be one of the defining features of humans, but examples of it were eventually observed in primates and other mammals. Dolphins can toss objects as a form of play which some scientists consider to be a type of tool use, particularly when it involves another member of the same species. Potential purposes include a means of communication, social bonding, or aggressiveness. (Octopuses have also been observed engaging in similar throwing behavior.)
But the biggest surprise came when birds were observed using tools in the wild. After all, birds are the only surviving dinosaurs, and mammals and dinosaurs hadn’t shared a common ancestor for hundreds of millions of years. In the wild, observed tool use has been limited to the corvids (crows and jays), which show a variety of other complex behaviors—they’ll remember your face and recognize the passing of their dead.
What a fun way to bring back memories of that classic cartoon! Veronika sounds like a unique character, and it’s always interesting to see how humor and creativity can come together in unexpected ways. Looking forward to more posts like this!
Absolutely! It’s interesting how Veronika not only brings a playful twist to the original concept but also highlights the idea of intelligence in animals. It makes you wonder what other surprising skills animals might have!
I completely agree! Veronika’s character adds a fun layer to the idea of tool use in animals, sparking curiosity about animal intelligence. It also invites us to think about how creativity can manifest in unexpected ways across different species.