Why an Austrian Cow's Back-Scratching Has Scientists Intrigued
While tool use has been documented in various animals, the level of sophistication typically remains rare outside primates like chimpanzees. A new study focusing on an Austrian cow named Veronika challenges this notion, prompting scientists to reconsider assumptions about bovine intelligence.
Veronika's Remarkable Tool Manipulation
Veronika, a 13-year-old Swiss Brown cow living in the village of Nötsch, Austria, has been observed using a deck brush to scratch herself with surprising precision. Researchers discovered that she holds the brush in her mouth and selects between the brush end or the handle depending on which body part needs attention—using the brush for her hard-skinned back and the handle for her softer underbelly. She even adjusts the pressure applied, demonstrating what scientists describe as sophisticated tool usage previously undocumented in cattle.
The Scientific Investigation
After encountering a video of Veronika's behavior, researchers Alice Auersperg and Antonio Osuna-Mascaró from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna conducted detailed observations. Their findings, published in the journal Current Biology, document 76 instances of self-directed tool use across multiple sessions. The study notes that Veronika's behavior shows versatility, anticipation, and fine motor targeting, characteristics rarely seen in hoofed mammals.
The research specifically defines tool use as "the manipulation of an external object to achieve a goal via a mechanical interface." While flexible tool use has been reported in some terrestrial ungulates like Asian elephants, this study represents the first experimental verification in cattle.
Context of Animal Tool Use
Tool use in animals gained significant attention in the 1960s when primatologist Jane Goodall observed chimpanzees using grass blades to extract termites. Since then, various species including crows, parrots, whales, elephants, and wolves have demonstrated tool manipulation abilities. However, using a single tool for multiple purposes remains exceptionally rare outside primates.
The study emphasizes that Veronika's differential use of both broom ends constitutes multipurpose tool application, exploiting distinct properties of one object for different functions. Comparable behavior has been consistently documented primarily in chimpanzees.
In India, primatologist Anindya Sinha of the National Institute of Advanced Studies in Bengaluru has documented bonnet macaques manufacturing and using tools in various contexts—the only known example of wild monkeys actively creating tools worldwide.
Is Veronika Exceptionally Intelligent?
Researchers suggest that Veronika's behavior might stem more from her unique living conditions than inherent super-intelligence. Unlike typical dairy cattle, Veronika lives as a family pet with opportunities to roam freely in meadows and interact with humans. At 13 years old, she has enjoyed an unusually long and stress-free life for a cow.
The study authors argue that "persistent mind-denial biases associated with meat consumption" have limited research into cows as intelligent, social animals beyond their utility value. They propose that if more cattle experienced environments as enriched as Veronika's, similar behaviors might emerge.
Anindya Sinha offers two possible explanations: "One is associative learning through trial and error. The second, more intriguing possibility, is that Veronika has discovered tool manipulation for different goals, which would indicate insight—a much more remarkable cognitive achievement."
Scientific and Cultural Significance
This discovery challenges prevailing assumptions about animals traditionally viewed as utilitarian and intellectually limited. Veronika's case provides a foundation for further studies on cattle intelligence and could expand our understanding of these animals' cognitive capabilities.
The research also intersects with cultural perceptions—while English uses "cow" pejoratively, Hindi associates gau with innocence and virtue, though not typically with sharp intellect. Veronika's behavior invites reconsideration of these cultural stereotypes alongside scientific understanding.
