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Experimental investigation of orangutans’ sharp stone tool behaviours
- WalterGR 5y agoThe meat, especially the final paragraph I’ve quoted here: “Although the orangutans did not make sharp stone tools initially, three individuals spontaneously engaged in lithic percussion, and sharp stone pieces were produced under later experimental conditions. Furthermore, when provided with a human-made sharp stone, one orangutan spontaneously used it as a cutting tool. Contrary to previous experiments, social demonstrations did not considerably improve the stone tool making and using abilities of orangutans. Our study is the first to systematically investigate the stone tool making and using abilities of untrained, unenculturated orangutans showing that two proposed pre-requisites for the emergence of early lithic technologies–lithic percussion and the recognition of sharp-edged stones as cutting tools–are present in this species.”
- vba616 5y ago>social demonstrations did not considerably improve the stone tool making and using abilities of orangutans Maybe they are able to accurately assess human technology all around them and understand that stone tools won't help them escape.
- carapace 5y agoPeople who live near orangutans say they know how to talk but they don't do it around humans because they don't want to be made to work.
- eganist 5y agoI feel like this could be easily dis/proven with just a handful of nature cams.
- WalterGR 5y agoIt has to be a solved question - we just need a source. :)
- dhosek 5y agoI've had co-workers like that.
- bitwize 5y ago"Run!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmXJCpdAiI4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmXJCpdAiI4