Chimpanzees Using Spears

The other day I saw a post on Facebook about a troop of chimpanzees in Senegal that have been observed making spears from tree branches.  Some of the chimpanzees gnawed on the end of the sticks to sharpen them to a point.  The chimpanzees then used the spears for hunting bushbabies.  Bushbabies are smaller, nocturnal primates with huge eyes and big ears.  The chimpanzees used the spears to stab into bushbaby nests and hideouts while the bushbabies were sleeping.

Chimpanzees are notably intelligent.  They have been observed using “tools” for many years.  Some troops use rocks to smash open the hard shells of nuts.  Some troops use sticks to “fish” termites from holes in termite mounds.  Chimpanzees will throw sticks and stones to intimidate challengers.

At the same time, chimpanzees are notably violent.  Perhaps you recall the 2009 attack on Carla Nash by a chimpanzee.  The attack left Carla without a face.  She eventually underwent a successful face transplant.  Troops of chimpanzees are known to stage violent attacks on other chimpanzees.  They are aggressive and territorial.  They will murder and cannibalize.

Witnessing chimpanzees using spears, while remarkable, is also disturbing.  How long before a troop marches off to war with spears?  If that happens, do we merely observe them…or do we stop them and save them from themselves?

--Mitchell Hegman