Is Mankind the only Species that Makes and Uses Tools?

Oct 12, 2011
Kelly Dupree

Dolphins Use Tools for Hunting - Steve Jurvetson

Scientists believed that tool use was a trait unique only to humans, however, recent research into animals that utilize tools has proven this incorrect.

Scientists investigating tool use have found some enlightening information. Research is showing that some land, air and sea dwelling animals are adept at using tools.

What constitutes a tool, as far as scientists are concerned?

For centuries man has been making and using tools for building, hunting and grooming, as well as countless other tasks. Other primates, like great apes, monkeys and orangutans have been observed using tools to accomplish grooming, hunting and foraging goals, however, man and monkeys are not the only animals that have figured out how to use tools to achieve a goal.

Many scientists classify a tool as any object that is used for a specific purpose, while others believe that a true tool is something that an animal modifies to suit a purpose or achieve a goal, and still other scientists define a tool as an object that is carried around or kept by an animal for future use. This lack of clear definition has made it difficult to identify and classify some animals as tool users.

A few known tool users of the animal kingdom are listed below

Flying tool users — Birds of many different species have been known to use modified twigs, leaves and even their own feathers as tools. Crows, parrots, seagulls, and many other birds are known to use tools for many things, including hunting and playing. Ravens have been known to make their own toys, and pet parrots have been known to use various tools to scratch their necks.
Ocean dwelling tool users — Dolphins, sea otters and even octopi use tools. A recent video of tool use by a fish was published in the journal Coral Reefs by Giacomo Bernardi, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Land dwelling tool users — Human tool use aside; there are many land animals that use tools in their everyday life. Monkeys and apes use sticks to hunt termites and ants, they have been known to fashion sticks into spears to hunt other animals for meat and young male monkeys use sticks for play fighting while female monkeys carry sticks as dolls, similar to the play of human children.

Intelligence of tool using animals

Animals that have proven themselves capable tool users are likely smarter than first believed. It requires a certain level of intelligence to make, modify and use tools to achieve a goal. Tool using elephants, dolphin’s crows and many other animals make scientists eager to investigate and better understand how tool use may have originated in humanity.