Animals using tools isn’t just something out of a nature documentary, it’s a real sign of intelligence seen across many species.
From birds that craft hooks out of twigs to dolphins that protect their snouts with marine sponges, these behaviours show how animals adapt creatively to survive.
Each example challenges the old belief that only humans are capable of inventiveness.
The more scientists observe the animal world, the clearer it becomes that resourcefulness isn’t ours alone.
This article is for general knowledge only and is based on information from online sources.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only.
1. New Caledonian Crows
Crows from New Caledonia craft hooked tools from twigs and leaves to fish out insects from tree bark.
They carefully select materials, then bend and shape them into the perfect design for the job.
Some birds even keep their favourite tools for later use, storing them in safe spots.
Young crows learn these skills by watching their parents, proving that cultural transmission exists beyond humans.
This behaviour shows remarkable planning and problem-solving abilities that rival some primates.
2. Sea Otters
Floating on their backs, sea otters balance rocks on their chests to smash open stubborn shellfish.
They dive down to collect their favourite stones from the ocean floor, often keeping the same rock tucked in a skin fold under their arm.
This personal toolkit helps them access nutritious clams, mussels, and crabs that would otherwise remain sealed tight.
The technique requires precision and strength, showcasing their impressive dexterity in an aquatic environment.
3. Chimpanzees
Our closest relatives fashion sticks into fishing rods to extract termites from their mounds.
Chimps strip leaves from branches, then poke the modified stick into termite tunnels.
When they pull it out, it is covered with protein-rich insects ready to eat.
Different communities have unique techniques passed down through generations, creating distinct tool-using cultures.
They also use rocks as hammers and anvils to crack nuts, demonstrating their versatile approach to problem-solving.
4. Dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Australia, wear marine sponges on their rostrums like protective gloves.
This clever adaptation shields their sensitive snouts from sharp rocks and stinging creatures while they probe the seafloor for hidden fish.
Mothers teach this sponging behaviour to their daughters, creating a matrilineal tradition that has lasted for generations.
The practice requires intelligence and cultural learning, making it one of the few examples of tool use among marine mammals.
5. Elephants
With their remarkable trunks, elephants wield branches as fly swatters and back scratchers.
They select the right size stick for the task, sometimes modifying it by breaking off excess twigs.
Elephants also drop large rocks or logs onto electric fences to disable them, showing advanced understanding of cause and effect.
During dry seasons, they dig wells with their feet and tusks, then use bark or chewed grass balls to plug the holes and prevent evaporation.
6. Octopuses
Coconut octopuses collect discarded coconut shells and clamshells, stacking them for later use.
When danger approaches, they quickly assemble the shells around their soft bodies, creating a protective fortress.
Carrying these shells across the seafloor requires planning and foresight, as the octopus must transport awkward objects while remaining vulnerable.
This behaviour demonstrates that invertebrates can think ahead and prepare for future needs, challenging old assumptions about intelligence in the animal kingdom.
7. Woodpecker Finches
Found on the Galapagos Islands, these small birds lack the long tongues of true woodpeckers.
Instead, they grasp cactus spines or twigs in their beaks, using them to pry insects and grubs from tree bark.
The finch carefully selects the right tool length and thickness, sometimes modifying it to fit tight crevices.
This adaptation allows them to exploit a food source that would otherwise be inaccessible, showcasing evolution’s creative solutions to environmental challenges.
8. Capuchin Monkeys
These clever primates have mastered the art of using stone hammers and anvils to crack tough nuts.
Capuchins select appropriately sized rocks, then pound them against nuts placed on flat stone surfaces.
The technique requires strength, precision, and years of practice to perfect.
Youngsters watch adults closely, learning through observation and trial and error.
Some populations even use stones to dig for roots or to crack open shellfish, adapting their toolkit to local resources.
9. Gorillas
Gorillas use sticks as walking staffs to test the depth of water before crossing swampy areas.
This cautious behaviour prevents them from stepping into unexpectedly deep or dangerous spots.
They also fashion simple bridges by placing logs across streams, showing an understanding of physics and spatial relationships.
In captivity, gorillas have been observed using tools even more creatively, suggesting their wild counterparts may have untapped potential limited only by environmental needs.
10. Orangutans
When rain begins to fall, orangutans fashion umbrellas and rain hats from large leaves.
They also use leafy branches as gloves to handle spiny fruits or as cushions when sitting on thorny branches.
Some orangutans craft leaf napkins to wipe their faces or hands after messy meals.
Tool use varies between populations, with some communities showing unique innovations not seen elsewhere.
This cultural diversity highlights their capacity for learning and creativity in solving everyday problems.
11. Vultures
Egyptian vultures pick up rocks in their beaks and hurl them at ostrich eggs to break through the thick shells.
The eggs are too tough to crack with their beaks alone, so this stone-throwing technique provides access to a nutritious meal.
Birds may throw a rock repeatedly until the shell finally gives way.
This behaviour requires understanding that objects can be used to manipulate other objects, a cognitive leap that demonstrates impressive reasoning skills.
12. Crocodiles
During bird nesting season, crocodiles balance sticks on their snouts while floating near rookeries.
Birds searching for nest-building materials approach the seemingly convenient pile of twigs, only to become the crocodile’s next meal.
This deceptive strategy shows that reptiles can use tools and plan ambushes based on their prey’s behaviour.
The tactic works best during breeding season when birds are actively gathering materials, revealing the crocodile’s ability to time their hunting methods.
13. Ants
Certain ant species use tiny pieces of debris, leaves, or soil as sponges to soak up liquid food.
They carry these makeshift tools back to the nest, where other ants extract the absorbed nectar or juices.
This collective tool use allows the colony to transport liquids that would otherwise be impossible to carry.
The behaviour requires coordination and communication among workers, demonstrating that even tiny insects can employ tools to solve complex logistical challenges.
14. Herons
Green herons drop insects, feathers, or small twigs onto the water’s surface as bait to lure fish.
When curious fish approach the floating object, the heron strikes with lightning speed.
This fishing technique shows forward planning and an understanding that fish can be manipulated with decoys.
Not all herons use this method, suggesting it may be a learned behaviour passed between individuals.
The strategy turns ordinary objects into effective hunting tools, improving their catch rate.
