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In an unexpected twist of bovine ingenuity, Veronika, a Swiss brown cow, has taken the art of self-care to an unprecedented level. This remarkable cow has learned to use a broom to scratch those pesky, hard-to-reach spots.
Biologist Antonio J. Osuna-Mascaro has noted that Veronika is pioneering in her species by becoming the first known cow to utilize a tool for personal hygiene. Her innovative use of the broom highlights a surprising level of problem-solving ability.
Veronika demonstrates a clear preference for different textures, showing her adaptability. When she desires a firmer scratch, she opts for the broom’s stiffer-bristled end. For a gentler touch, she cleverly switches to the rounded tip, showcasing her discerning taste.
When it needed a harder scrub, it would use the stiffer-bristled end.
For a softer touch, it would flip it around and use the rounded tip of the broom.
“The only well-documented case of something comparable comes from chimpanzees, on those – also rare – occasions when they fish for termites by combining the functions of the two opposite ends of the same stick,” Osuna-Mascaro told the BBC.
Tool use among primates has been well-documented and studied, but despite how close they are to humans, cows have not been given the same treatment.
“It is important to know that cows have the capacity to innovate in their use of tools and to use them flexibly, because this sends a strong message about how biased we have been regarding cows’ intelligence and their capabilities,” Osuna-Mascaro said.
Veronika’s life isn’t that of the typical cow.
Osuna-Mascaro said he wanted to hear from other people who have witnessed cows using tools.
“The key element is this: grabbing a free-moving object and using it as an extension of oneself in order to reach targets that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to reach,” he said.
So scratching their heads on a fencepost doesn’t count.
The notion that only humans could use tools was debunked in 1960.
Since then, tool use has been observed in certain types of fish, birds, reptiles and octopuses.
Elephants, sea otters, mongooses, honey badgers and other mammals have also been spotted using tools.
Osuna-Mascaro’s findings have been published in the latest issue of Current Biology.
