News Life

Culture results when chimps get cracking

Neighbors take different approaches to opening nuts

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

With the discovery of notably different dining habits among neighboring groups of chimpanzees, researchers may have some of their best examples yet of cultural traditions among animals.

A juvenile male chimpanzee in a western Africa forest cracks Coula nuts with a rock. Some groups of chimps in this region use stone tools throughout the season, whereas others switch to wood tools, suggesting cultural traditions among these primates.