Mandrill Monkey's Cure For Boredom - A Pedicure!

It appears that Mandrill monkeys in captivity are getting smarter by the day - Just a few weeks ago, researchers revealed a group that had figured out sign language to get some space - Now, another one has been caught on tape as it gives itself a 'pedicure' using a custom-built nail file!

This smart male Mandrill, who lives at England's Chester Zoo, was being observed for a totally different study, when researcher Dr. Richard Pansini noticed something interesting. The animal sought out a twig from within its cage, thinned it so that it could slide under his toe nails and then, proceeded to do a rather fine job of cleaning them.

The reason the research community is excited by this crude 'pedicure' is because it shows the creation and usage of tools. This in turn, proves a level of intelligence that had previously been thought to be possessed only by humans. However, recently tool usage has been observed in dolphins, octopuses, chimpanzees and even crows. While monkeys have also been seen using tools, it has rarely been outside the realm of acquiring food.

What's even more exciting to Dr. Pansini is that in the past these primates have used twigs to clean out their ears, but this monkey has figured out how to modify the same 'tool' and use it for a totally different purpose.

And, even more interesting is the fact that the researcher believes that giving themselves 'pedicures' is not something Mandrill monkeys do in the wild - They are too busy trying to forage for food and tend to their families. However, since there is not much to do in the zoo, he thinks that this Mandrill has figured out this frivolous activity to pass the time!

Of course, not all experts agree with this conclusion. Dr. Amanda Seed, a researcher at the University of Andrews maintains that when a primate uses something for self-cleaning, it is not technically 'tool usage'. Whatever it is, we think this Mandrill is quite smart - Don't you?

Resources: physorg.com