Scientists are reevaluating cattle intelligence after an Austrian cow named Veronika surprised researchers with her ability to use tools. This remarkable cow lives with Witgar Wiegele, an organic farmer in Carinthia. Wiegele noticed that Veronika enjoyed playing with sticks to scratch herself, showing a unique behavior.
Wiegele shared his amazement, saying Veronika recognized family voices and came running when called. Her playful use of sticks caught the attention of biologists in Vienna, leading them to explore her abilities further. “It was a cow using an actual tool,” remarked Dr. Antonio Osuna Mascaró from the University of Veterinary Medicine.
Veronika lives in a picturesque village called Nötsch im Gailtal, surrounded by green forests and lakes. This environment, along with her age of 13—rare for cows—likely contributed to her skills. When researchers arrived, they brought a broom to see what Veronika could do. To their astonishment, she expertly picked it up, adjusting it with her tongue to reach those hard-to-scratch spots.
According to a study published in Current Biology, Veronika used the broom differently depending on where she itched. For tougher areas, she used the bristles, but switched to the smooth handle for more sensitive spots. This indicated a thoughtful approach to her scratching.
Historically, tool use is known in animals like chimpanzees and dolphins, but it’s uncommon among livestock. Veronika’s talent challenges that assumption. In seven sessions, researchers recorded 76 instances of tool use, noting that her ability to switch between broom ends is extremely rare outside human innovation.
Experts believe that this discovery might indicate that cows possess more intelligence than previously thought. “Cows have the potential to innovate tool use, and we have ignored this for thousands of years,” Dr. Osuna Mascaró admitted.
On social media, many users have expressed surprise and curiosity about Veronika’s abilities. Some compare her to a brainy animal, while others ruminate on the implications for understanding farm animals. With recent studies showing increased animal intelligence across species, Veronika might just be the tip of the iceberg.
In conclusion, while Veronika isn’t inventing tools as cartoonists might imagine, her clever use of a broom reshapes our perception of cows. This could lead to future research on animal intelligence, helping to uncover the hidden capabilities of various livestock.
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