Monkey see, monkey do

Researchers from Uganda, Switzerland and the United Kingdom have issued a report on chimpanzees in East African rainforests that dig wells. The report refers to an immigrant chimp named Onyofi, who was brought to Uganda in the Waibira area in 2015. Onyofi introduced well-digging to other chimps who learned her skill by watching her as she dug for water. Although other members of the group have taken on the practice, only adult males have been observed drinking from the well and not digging. The act of retrieving concealed water has been documented in species such as African elephants and warthogs, but the behaviour is somewhat surprising for animals living in rainforests where water is more accessible. “What’s also interesting is that the wells all appear next to open water, so the purpose of them is likely filtering, not reaching the water — the chimpanzees might get cleaner or differently flavoured water from a well, which is fascinating,” read the report. Researchers believe that this behaviour may be a useful survival mechanism as changes in climate continue to affect rainfall and the chimps’ environment.