A cow in Austria is challenging long-held beliefs about animal intelligence after demonstrating the ability to use tools to relieve an itch. Veronika,a 13-year-old bovine,was observed skillfully using a grooming brush – and even discerning which end to use for different areas – prompting researchers to investigate her cognitive abilities. The case is sparking renewed interest in animal cognition and suggesting that livestock may be far more perceptive than previously understood.
In Brief
- An Austrian cow named Veronika has demonstrated tool use by skillfully employing a brush to scratch an itch, challenging assumptions about bovine intelligence.
- The case suggests cows may possess cognitive abilities previously underestimated, prompting further investigation into animal intelligence.
- Veronika’s behavior is inspiring researchers to explore the potential for unexpected intelligence across the animal kingdom.
An Austrian cow named Veronika is prompting a reevaluation of how we perceive animal intelligence. Her owner, Witgar Wiegele, noticed years ago that Veronika would play with sticks and use them to scratch herself. This unusual behavior eventually caught the attention of biologists specializing in animal cognition at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna.
Tool Use Confirmed
Dr. Antonio Osuna Mascaró and colleague Alice Auersperg traveled to Veronika’s rural home to conduct field tests. They provided her with a grooming brush, which she promptly used to reach itchy spots on her back. Remarkably, Veronika demonstrated an understanding of tool selection, choosing the bristled end for tougher areas and the smooth handle for more sensitive regions.
Veronika’s ability to utilize a tool in such a targeted manner is highly unusual, particularly in livestock. While tool use has been documented in species like chimpanzees, crows, dolphins, and even octopuses, cattle have traditionally been considered less intelligent animals. This discovery suggests that perception may be outdated, and highlights the growing field of animal cognition research.
Challenging Preconceptions
Researchers believe Veronika’s age (13 years) and stimulating environment may have contributed to her skills. However, they also suggest that cattle may possess a greater capacity for innovation than previously thought. Following the initial research, reports of other intelligent cows have emerged, further supporting this idea.
// Facebook (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v3.2&appId=1536503266589902&autoLogAppEvents=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));
// Taboola window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({article:'auto'}); !function (e, f, u, i) { if (!document.getElementById(i)){ e.async = 1; e.src = u; e.id = i; f.parentNode.insertBefore(e, f); } }(document.createElement('script'), document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0], '//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/gmgroup-newsmonkey/loader.js', 'tb_loader_script'); if(window.performance && typeof window.performance.mark == 'function') {window.performance.mark('tbl_ic');}
// Twitter window.twttr = (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], t = window.twttr || {}; if (d.getElementById(id)) return t; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
t._e = []; t.ready = function(f) { t._e.push(f); };
return t; }(document, "script", "twitter-wjs"));
// Onesignal setTimeout(function(){ console.log("about to initialize OneSignal"); window.OneSignal = window.OneSignal || []; window.OneSignal.push(function() { window.OneSignal.init(window._oneSignalInitOptions); OneSignal.showSlidedownPrompt(); }); }, 10000);
};
