Evidence of Culture in Wild Chimpanzees

Researchers Thibaud Gruber, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK, Budongo Conservation Field Station, Masindi, Uganda; Martin N. Muller, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda; Pontus Strimling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK; Richard Wrangham, Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA; and Klaus Zuberbuhler, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK, Budongo Conservation Field Station, Masindi, Uganda have come up with fascinating evidence of culture in Wild Chimpanzees. The word "Culture" here refers to a population-specific set of behaviors acquired through social learning, such as imitation. 15 years were spent in the field to come up with these fascinating observations.

The study clearly showed that neighboring chimpanzee populations in Uganda used different tools to solve a problem like extracting honey trapped within a fallen log. Kibale Forest chimpanzees use sticks to get at the honey, whereas Budongo Forest chimpanzees rely on leaf sponges that they make out of chewed leaves. The researchers say the difference in tool use was that chimpanzees resorted to preexisting cultural knowledge in trying to solve the novel task .This is in contrast to an animal or human learning something on his or her own through trial and error.

Details of the research appears in Current Biology