Veronika the Cow: Genius Self-Care 🤯🐄

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Veronika: A Cow’s Unexpected Tool Use
Veronika, a pet Swiss brown cow residing in Austria, has captured the attention of scientists due to her remarkable behavior: she habitually picks up sticks and uses them to scratch herself. This behavior, as detailed in a newly published paper in the journal *Current Biology*, indicates a form of multipurpose tool use, suggesting scientists have previously underestimated the cognitive capabilities of cows. The phenomenon echoes a 1982 cartoon, “Cow Tools,” which playfully questioned whether cows employed tools. Historically, tool use was considered a defining characteristic of humans, but it has since been observed in other species, including primates and dolphins.

Cockatoos Demonstrate Clever Tool Strategies
A captive cockatoo named Figaro offered a compelling parallel, showcasing sophisticated tool-using techniques. Faced with a stone that had fallen behind a metal divider, Figaro attempted to reach it, picking up a stick to extend his reach. Despite initial failure, researchers introduced a nut as an added incentive, prompting Figaro to first select a stick from the enclosure’s floor, which proved too short. He then skillfully splintered off a piece of the enclosure’s wooden base, using it to pull the nut towards the wire until he could grasp it with his beak. Throughout subsequent trials, Figaro employed a different tool, often modifying it before successfully retrieving a nut; in one instance, he made four separate modifications before utilizing a stick.

Scientific Observation Uncovers Complex Behaviors
Medicine Auersperg was intrigued by the footage of Veronika’s scratching behavior, noting that “it was clear that this was not accidental; this was a meaningful example of tool use.” To assess the extent of Veronika’s tool use, Auersperg and her postdoctoral researcher, Antonio Osuna-Mascaro, visited the farm where she resided, with the permission of her owner, Witgar Wiegele, an organic farmer and baker. During a series of randomized trials, they introduced a deck scrub broom – chosen for its asymmetrical shape – and recorded 76 instances of Veronika utilizing it over seven sessions consisting of ten trials each. Veronika consistently employed her tongue to lift and position the broom in her mouth, securing a stable grip with her teeth.

Beyond Simple Tool Use: Goal-Directed Flexibility
Veronika’s scratching behavior is likely driven by the need to alleviate itching caused by insect bites. However, her open and complex environment, in contrast to that of most livestock, combined with frequent interactions with humans, appears to have facilitated the emergence of her unusual cognitive abilities. The authors noted that this type of technical problem-solving isn’t restricted to species possessing large brains and manual appendages, such as cows, as illustrated by Gary Larson’s cartoon. “Veronika did not create tools in the manner of the cartoon cow, but she selected, adjusted, and used a tool with considerable dexterity and flexibility,” they wrote. “Perhaps the greater absurdity lies in assuming that tool-using behavior is exclusively limited to species with large brains and hands or beaks.”

This article is AI-synthesized from public sources and may not reflect original reporting.