How Does Tool Use Reveal Cow Intelligence?

TL;DR

A pet cow named Veronica intentionally uses sticks, brooms, and different tool ends to scratch body parts she cannot otherwise reach. Researchers say the first documented example of this behavior in a cow may qualify as multi-purpose tool use and suggests cows possess greater cognitive capabilities than previously thought. The news roundup also covers shark attacks, traffic safety, tulips, cubing records, and fire preparedness.

Transcript

Hey everyone and welcome to another episode of CNN 10. I'm Mina Derson filling in for Koi Wire from CNN New York and I am so excited to be here. Today is Wednesday, January 21st. Now let's get you your news. We're going to start in Australia where a series of shark attacks has forced dozens of beaches to close and triggered warnings to stay out of ... Read More

Key Insights

• Veronica is a pet cow in Austria that intentionally uses sticks and other tools to scratch parts of her body she cannot otherwise reach. Her owner reports that she has practiced this behavior for a decade, indicating that it is an established skill rather than a single observed incident.
• Veronica's tool selection is purposeful because she uses implements such as brooms and prefers different ends for particular body areas. Researchers say this distinction may qualify as multi-purpose tool use, a rare behavior that the report says has otherwise been documented in chimpanzees.
• Veronica's behavior is the first documented example of tool-assisted scratching in a cow. Researchers who investigated her after seeing a video believe the finding could show that cows possess substantially higher cognitive capabilities than previously thought.
• Bull sharks can live in both saltwater and freshwater, and they commonly hunt near river mouths and murky areas such as Sydney Harbor. Experts said heavy rainfall changes salinity, moves fish, and can cause the sharks to move actively through the harbor in search of prey.
• Four shark attacks were reported within 48 hours in New South Wales, forcing dozens of beaches to close. A 12-year-old boy and a 25-year-old surfer were hospitalized in critical condition, while an 11-year-old escaped unharmed after a shark bit his surfboard.
• Rome's historic center reduced its speed limit from 50 to 30 kilometers per hour to address accidents, pollution, and noise. Officials planned gradual enforcement over 30 days, while residents expressed opposing views about whether the lower limit improves safety or excessively restricts drivers.
• Amsterdam's National Tulip Day featured a free garden containing 200,000 tulips to open the selling season. Visitors could pick up to 10 flowers each, while the report identified the Netherlands as the world's largest producer of cut tulips.
• Fire-safety education enabled 9-year-old Savage to respond quickly when a fire started in his apartment building. He told his father to activate the fire alarm and call 911, then made sure everyone evacuated, actions the local fire department said prevented a catastrophic outcome.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Veronica the cow use tools?

Veronica uses sticks, brooms, and similar objects to scratch parts of her body that she cannot otherwise reach. Researchers determined that she handles these tools intentionally rather than making accidental contact. She also prefers different ends of a tool for specific body areas, a distinction that led the researchers to suggest her behavior may qualify as multi-purpose tool use.

Q: What does Veronica's tool use reveal about cows?

Veronica's behavior suggests that cows may possess higher cognitive capabilities than researchers previously thought. Her actions involve intentionally choosing and manipulating tools to solve the practical problem of reaching an itch. Because she also uses different tool ends for different body areas, the researchers believe the behavior could represent multi-purpose tool use, which the report describes as a rare feat.

Q: Why did shark attacks close beaches in Australia?

Dozens of beaches closed after four bull shark attacks were reported within 48 hours at popular locations in New South Wales. Three incidents occurred in Sydney, and another happened farther north along the coast. Authorities issued warnings to stay out of the water, while a 12-year-old boy and a 25-year-old surfer remained hospitalized in critical condition following separate attacks.

Q: Why can heavy rainfall increase bull shark encounters?

Heavy rainfall adds freshwater to places such as Sydney Harbor and changes the water's salinity. According to an expert in the report, bull sharks tolerate freshwater and move actively around the harbor as fish are displaced by those salinity changes. Because the sharks follow their prey through murky water, recent weather conditions may contribute to more encounters near beaches and harbor areas.

Q: Why did Rome lower its historic-center speed limit?

Rome lowered the speed limit in its historic center from 50 to 30 kilometers per hour to reduce road accidents and pollution. Local authorities also expect the change to lower noise levels by around 2 decibels. Enforcement was scheduled to increase gradually over 30 days, while residents debated whether the slower limit appropriately protects pedestrians, cyclists, and scooter riders.

Q: What happened during Amsterdam's National Tulip Day?

Growers transformed a square in Amsterdam into a free pick-your-own garden containing 200,000 tulips. Visitors were allowed to select up to 10 tulips each, and some described it as their first experience seeing or picking the flowers. The celebration opened the tulip selling season in the Netherlands, which the report identifies as the world's largest producer of cut tulips.

Q: What Rubik's Cube records did Frank Zaminsky set?

Frank Zaminsky, a 95-year-old cubing enthusiast, set three World Cube Association records in the senior category. He solved a standard Rubik's Cube in 5 minutes and 49 seconds, then established two additional records for the 2-by-2 cube, covering the best single time and the best average time for his age group. His local club encouraged him to compete.

Q: How did school fire-safety lessons help Savage?

School fire-safety lessons taught 9-year-old Savage what to do when a fire began in his apartment building. He told his father to pull the fire alarm and call 911, then ensured that everyone evacuated. The Mount Lebanon Fire Department said his quick response kept the incident from becoming catastrophic, demonstrating how classroom preparation can guide children during a real emergency.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Veronica, a pet cow in Austria, has used sticks and other tools to scratch unreachable body parts for a decade. Researchers studied her after seeing a video and found that she intentionally uses brooms and selects different ends for specific areas. They believe the behavior may demonstrate unexpectedly advanced cognitive capabilities in cows.

• Four bull shark attacks within 48 hours prompted beach closures and warnings in New South Wales, Australia. Heavy rainfall can change harbor salinity and move fish, causing freshwater-tolerant bull sharks to move actively. Separately, Rome reduced its historic-center speed limit from 50 to 30 kilometers per hour to address accidents, pollution, and noise.

• Amsterdam marked National Tulip Day by creating a garden where visitors could pick from 200,000 tulips. Frank Zaminsky, age 95, set three senior-category cubing records. In Pennsylvania, 9-year-old Savage applied school fire-safety lessons by directing his father to activate the alarm and call 911 while helping everyone evacuate.