In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have observed the first recorded instance of a cow using a tool in a flexible manner. Veronika, a 10-year-old pet cow from Austria, has been found to use a branch to scratch herself, relieving skin irritation.
Veronika's ingenuity showcases that cattle possess enough intelligence to manipulate elements of their environment and solve challenges they would otherwise be unable to overcome. This is a significant breakthrough, as it was previously thought that tool use was exclusive to primates, birds, and marine mammals.
Researchers observed Veronika using different textures and objects, adapting according to her needs. She chose soft bristles one time and a stiffer point another, even modifying her technique depending on the object or area of her body she wanted to scratch. The team's findings suggest that cattle are capable of decision-making about which part of the tool is most useful to them.
The researchers believe Veronika's unique circumstances played a role in her development of this awareness. She has lived for 10 years in a complex, open environment filled with manipulable objects, fostering exploratory and innovative behavior. The team is now searching for more videos of cattle using tools to gather further evidence about their cognitive abilities.
The discovery highlights the importance of reevaluating our understanding of animal intelligence. As Miquel Llorente, director of the Department of Psychology at the University of Girona, noted, "Finding it in a cow is a fascinating example of convergent evolution: intelligence arises as a response to similar problems, regardless of how different the animal's 'design' may be."
Veronika's ingenuity showcases that cattle possess enough intelligence to manipulate elements of their environment and solve challenges they would otherwise be unable to overcome. This is a significant breakthrough, as it was previously thought that tool use was exclusive to primates, birds, and marine mammals.
Researchers observed Veronika using different textures and objects, adapting according to her needs. She chose soft bristles one time and a stiffer point another, even modifying her technique depending on the object or area of her body she wanted to scratch. The team's findings suggest that cattle are capable of decision-making about which part of the tool is most useful to them.
The researchers believe Veronika's unique circumstances played a role in her development of this awareness. She has lived for 10 years in a complex, open environment filled with manipulable objects, fostering exploratory and innovative behavior. The team is now searching for more videos of cattle using tools to gather further evidence about their cognitive abilities.
The discovery highlights the importance of reevaluating our understanding of animal intelligence. As Miquel Llorente, director of the Department of Psychology at the University of Girona, noted, "Finding it in a cow is a fascinating example of convergent evolution: intelligence arises as a response to similar problems, regardless of how different the animal's 'design' may be."
I mean, who knew cows were secretly masters of tool use? 
Veronika is literally a genius! 
and it's awesome that scientists are studying this to learn more about animal intelligence. I'm all about giving credit where credit is due - those cattle have been solving problems like pros for years, we just didn't know it till now. 
I love how they chose the right tool for the job, whether it was soft or stiff bristles - that's problem-solving 101 right there! 
and it makes me think about all those animals we have in zoos or farms that might be more clever than we give them credit for 
! Can't wait to see what other cool things they find out about animal intelligence 
71% of the world's cattle are raised on grass-based diets, while 29% are grain-fed. Grass-based diet could be linked to increased intelligence in cattle 
A study published in Science found that tool use is common among primates, birds & marine mammals, but rare in other animals. Veronika broke the mold! 
This is wild! I mean, who knew cows were secretly tool-wielding geniuses? Veronika is like the animal version of Tony Stark - problem solver extraordinaire! The fact that she can adapt her technique based on the object and texture is insane. It's awesome to see scientists rethinking their understanding of animal intelligence, because let's be real, this discovery opens up so many doors for learning about animal cognition. I'm low-key excited to see more videos of cattle using tools - it's like a whole new world of cow-tasticness! 
they found a cow using a tool like its not even a big deal anymore! veronika is low-key a genius 
cattle are capable of decision-making & problem-solving, it blows my mind 
. I wonder what other tricks they can pull off next? Maybe they'll even start using memes 