COVID-19 has turned the animal kingdom upside down, just like a zoo without a zookeeper Instead of monkeys swinging from trees, they've been swinging stone tools to crack open oysters Imagine stopping by your favorite food truck only to find it closed That's how these monkeys felt when tourists stopped feeding them during the pandemic – so they had to get creative and learn how to fend for themselves
On a little island in Thailand, a group of long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis fascicularis) were seen using stone tools for the first time ever! Talk about evolution in action! ️ These monkeys usually rely on humans for food, but with no tourists to feed them during COVID-19, they had to think outside the box. Or should we say, outside the rock. They started using stones to crack open oysters – like little monkey chefs learning to use knives and forks! ️
It's like these monkeys were on a deserted island, like castaways on "Survivor." ️ They had to figure out a way to eat without their usual food supply from tourists. So, they started throwing stones and using them to break open oysters – talk about a natural, impromptu cooking show! This technique, known as "pound-hammering-like," was observed in 17 adult and sub-adult monkeys, with most of them being male. It's like the monkey version of a BBQ cookout – but instead of grilling meat, they're grilling oysters with stones!
Now that the tourists are back, the monkeys might go back to their old ways. It's like going back to fast food after learning how to cook – sometimes convenience wins out over skill. However, this new chapter in the monkeys' behavior provides a glimpse into how animals adapt and learn during changing times. It's like a real-life "Planet of the Apes" plot twist! So let's celebrate these resourceful monkeys and their unexpected stone age skills It's a reminder that even in the face of challenges, nature always finds a way to survive and thrive So, rock on, monkeys!