VIDEO Funny Orangutan Learns to Saw Wood! | Spy In The Wild | BBC Earth

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Funny Orangutan Learns to Saw Wood! | Spy In The Wild | BBC Earth In a delightful and educational clip from the BBC's Spy In The Wild, we witness the intelligence of wild orangutans as one female demonstrates a fascinating skill: sawing wood. The video cleverly showcases how even a wild orangutan can learn complex tasks by observing human activities.

Key Highlights:​

• The video features an incredibly smart female orangutan who discovers a saw and instinctively understands how to use it. This ability to solve problems by imitation suggests a remarkable cognitive skill set.
• The clip illustrates that, unlike other species like rhinos, which lack opposable thumbs needed for such tasks, orangutans possess the dexterity required to manipulate tools, a trait developed over millions of years of evolution.
• Interestingly, this orangutan learned the sawing technique not just by instinct but possibly from observing human interactions in constructing huts in their habitat. Over two decades, previously rescued orangutans have assimilated similar skills through direct observation, showcasing the capability of primates in adapting processes from their environment.
• Throughout the clip, you see the orangutan using its feet to stabilize the branch, demonstrating an impressive level of control and creativity in how it approaches this task.

The Role of Competition:​

The presence of a "spy" orangutan—a robotic replica—invites a playful competitive dynamic, encouraging the wild orangutan to enhance its performance. This aspect emphasizes how competition can motivate learning behavior, mirroring human experiences in various skills acquisition.

Conclusion:​

The video is a delightful reminder of the advanced capabilities of these creatures, reinforcing the idea that tool use is not merely a human characteristic but part of a broader spectrum of intelligence within the animal kingdom. What do you think about the cognitive abilities of primates? Have you ever witnessed animals using tools in your own experiences? Share your thoughts and any interesting stories!