Cow surprises researchers with astonishing display of tool use, rewriting what we know about animal intelligence

DCM Editorial Summary: This story has been independently rewritten and summarised for DCM readers to highlight key developments relevant to the region. Original reporting by BBC, click this post to read the original article.

You might be surprised to learn that cows could be more intelligent than previously thought. Scientists in Vienna are rethinking cattle cognition after discovering an Austrian cow named Veronika using tools with impressive skill. Living in a remote mountain village, Veronika has learned to scratch herself using objects like sticks, rakes, and brushes—sometimes even using both ends of a single tool for different purposes.

This type of behavior is rare in the animal world and has never before been documented in cows. Dr. Antonio Osuna-Mascaro, a researcher at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, said they hadn’t expected cows to use tools at all, let alone use one object for multiple tasks. Up until now, this kind of tool use has only been regularly seen in animals like chimpanzees, suggesting a major shift in how you might think about cattle intelligence.

Researchers now believe other cows could exhibit similar behavior if observed closely, hinting at overlooked cognitive traits in livestock. Veronika’s owner, Witgar Wiegele, hopes her unique abilities will encourage you to appreciate and protect the natural world. As he puts it, saving nature is ultimately about protecting yourself, and biodiversity is essential to our survival.