Chimpanzee Tool Use Study Highlights Impact of Age and Experience

Research spanning 25 years reveals how age, strength, and learned techniques influence the efficiency of nut-cracking among chimpanzees in Guinea.

A study by the University of Oxford analyzed 832 hours of footage of 21 chimpanzees in Bossou, Guinea, using stone tools to crack palm nuts over 25 years.
Younger chimpanzees were faster and required fewer strikes due to greater physical strength, while older individuals compensated with experience and precision.
Older chimpanzees were less likely to make errors like dropping the nut or selecting unsuitable tools, showcasing the benefits of learned techniques.
Chimpanzees mastered nut-cracking by the age of 10 or 11 through observation and practice, with skills continuing to improve through independent refinement.
The study suggests that differences in tool use efficiency could influence individual survival and have evolutionary implications for the species.