Ndoki Rain Forest | National Geographic

in some ways they look and act much like

in some ways they look and act much like us now come stunning new evidence that

us now come stunning new evidence that

us now come stunning new evidence that gorillas may also think like us this

gorillas may also think like us this

gorillas may also think like us this incredible series of photographs taken

incredible series of photographs taken

incredible series of photographs taken deep in the African Congo and revealed

deep in the African Congo and revealed

deep in the African Congo and revealed here

here

here for the first time show what some

for the first time show what some

for the first time show what some researchers thought was impossible proof

researchers thought was impossible proof

researchers thought was impossible proof that while gorillas can think through

that while gorillas can think through

that while gorillas can think through problems and like humans they can make

problems and like humans they can make

problems and like humans they can make and use tools to solve those problems

and use tools to solve those problems

and use tools to solve those problems Wildlife Conservation Society scientist

Wildlife Conservation Society scientist

Wildlife Conservation Society scientist Emma Stokes and Thomas Brewer believe

Emma Stokes and Thomas Brewer believe

Emma Stokes and Thomas Brewer believe the discovery gives us new insight into

the discovery gives us new insight into

the discovery gives us new insight into the mind of the great ape films his

the mind of the great ape films his

the mind of the great ape films his observation of tweezing behavior by

observation of tweezing behavior by

observation of tweezing behavior by gorillas in Bali was was it was a

gorillas in Bali was was it was a

gorillas in Bali was was it was a fantastic discovery it was made here in

fantastic discovery it was made here in

fantastic discovery it was made here in this remote research outpost at in belly

this remote research outpost at in belly

this remote research outpost at in belly by

the swampy forest clearing in the

the swampy forest clearing in the northern Congo where frolicking

northern Congo where frolicking

northern Congo where frolicking elephants create pools of turgid water

one morning Brewer witnesses something

one morning Brewer witnesses something extraordinary and manages to capture it

extraordinary and manages to capture it

extraordinary and manages to capture it on film a female gorilla named Lea grabs

on film a female gorilla named Lea grabs

on film a female gorilla named Lea grabs a stick and appears to use it as a tool

a stick and appears to use it as a tool

a stick and appears to use it as a tool to measure the depth of the water before

to measure the depth of the water before

to measure the depth of the water before crossing a patch of swampy ground this

crossing a patch of swampy ground this

crossing a patch of swampy ground this is an amazing and scientifically

is an amazing and scientifically

is an amazing and scientifically important moment but for Brewer is also

important moment but for Brewer is also

important moment but for Brewer is also a very familiar experience when I I

a very familiar experience when I I

a very familiar experience when I I cross a swamp

cross a swamp

cross a swamp I always use kind of stake to catch the

I always use kind of stake to catch the

I always use kind of stake to catch the water deepness and what’s fascinating is

water deepness and what’s fascinating is

water deepness and what’s fascinating is that these gorillas found exactly the

that these gorillas found exactly the

that these gorillas found exactly the minds domain the same solution to this

minds domain the same solution to this

minds domain the same solution to this problem with these extraordinary

problem with these extraordinary

problem with these extraordinary photographs WCS scientists for the first

photographs WCS scientists for the first

photographs WCS scientists for the first time have documented the use of tools

time have documented the use of tools

time have documented the use of tools among wild gorillas something never seen

among wild gorillas something never seen

among wild gorillas something never seen before we know that in the in the past

before we know that in the in the past

before we know that in the in the past we claim that Tullius is a unique

we claim that Tullius is a unique

we claim that Tullius is a unique feature of our own species but we know

feature of our own species but we know

feature of our own species but we know that that not the case any longer

that that not the case any longer

that that not the case any longer animals are able to plan their thing and

animals are able to plan their thing and

animals are able to plan their thing and they define a solution to a problem for

they define a solution to a problem for

they define a solution to a problem for years now we’ve known some animals use

years now we’ve known some animals use

years now we’ve known some animals use tools especially in the pursuit of food

tools especially in the pursuit of food

tools especially in the pursuit of food these chimpanzees are experts at

these chimpanzees are experts at

these chimpanzees are experts at brandishing clubs to crack open nuts

brandishing clubs to crack open nuts

brandishing clubs to crack open nuts passing their skills on to the next

passing their skills on to the next

passing their skills on to the next generation

generation

generation they use sticks to fish out insects and

they use sticks to fish out insects and

they use sticks to fish out insects and leaves like cups to scoop up water

but until now while gorillas were not

but until now while gorillas were not considered tool users some in captivity

considered tool users some in captivity

considered tool users some in captivity have used sticks to eke out a tasty

have used sticks to eke out a tasty

have used sticks to eke out a tasty treat but this behavior was never

treat but this behavior was never

treat but this behavior was never observed in the wild and there was more

observed in the wild and there was more

observed in the wild and there was more in another stroke of luck

in another stroke of luck

in another stroke of luck one month later Brewer witnesses a

one month later Brewer witnesses a

one month later Brewer witnesses a second gorilla inventing a tool a female

second gorilla inventing a tool a female

second gorilla inventing a tool a female named Effie drives a branch into the

named Effie drives a branch into the

named Effie drives a branch into the ground and uses it as an anchor as she

ground and uses it as an anchor as she

ground and uses it as an anchor as she reaches into the water ape said and

reaches into the water ape said and

reaches into the water ape said and belly by have been known to hang on to

belly by have been known to hang on to

belly by have been known to hang on to trees in order to pull themselves from

trees in order to pull themselves from

trees in order to pull themselves from the swamps but this is the first time a

the swamps but this is the first time a

the swamps but this is the first time a gorilla is seen creating a structure to

gorilla is seen creating a structure to

gorilla is seen creating a structure to support its weight this stunning new

support its weight this stunning new

support its weight this stunning new evidence shows that when presented with

evidence shows that when presented with

evidence shows that when presented with a challenge gorillas to have the ability

a challenge gorillas to have the ability

a challenge gorillas to have the ability to use tools to cope with their

to use tools to cope with their

to use tools to cope with their environment much like humans do such

environment much like humans do such

environment much like humans do such discoveries may help us understand our

discoveries may help us understand our

discoveries may help us understand our own evolution how our earliest ancestors

own evolution how our earliest ancestors

own evolution how our earliest ancestors made the cognitive leap to grasp the

made the cognitive leap to grasp the

made the cognitive leap to grasp the possibilities of engineering it just

possibilities of engineering it just

possibilities of engineering it just goes to show the kinds of benefits you

goes to show the kinds of benefits you

goes to show the kinds of benefits you can see from a long-term research

can see from a long-term research

can see from a long-term research presence in somewhere like in bone-dry

presence in somewhere like in bone-dry

presence in somewhere like in bone-dry we could be here for hundreds of years

we could be here for hundreds of years

we could be here for hundreds of years and still not truly uncover all the

and still not truly uncover all the

and still not truly uncover all the secrets of the forest have to offer

this important research gives us a

this important research gives us a glimpse into the minds of one of our

glimpse into the minds of one of our

glimpse into the minds of one of our nearest animal relatives and perhaps

nearest animal relatives and perhaps

nearest animal relatives and perhaps into the mists of our own distant past