Chimpanzees Exhibit Lifelong Learning in Tool Use, Study Finds

Recent research reveals that wild chimpanzees develop and refine their tool-using skills well into adulthood, offering insights into primate cognitive evolution.

Chimpanzees continue to enhance their tool-using abilities throughout their lives, mirroring human capacity for lifelong learning.
The study observed 70 wild chimpanzees in Côte d'Ivoire, analyzing their progression in tool manipulation techniques.
Advanced tool-using skills in chimpanzees, such as precision grips, are not fully developed until they reach 15 years of age.
This ongoing learning ability in chimpanzees is linked to large brain sizes, similar to other hominids, supporting continuous cognitive development.
Further research is suggested to explore the roles of reasoning and memory in the chimpanzees' learning processes.