In a surprising discovery, researchers in Vienna have found that an Austrian cow named Veronika possesses the remarkable ability to use tools, challenging long-held beliefs about the cognitive capabilities of cattle. Veronika, a Swiss brown cow living in the Austrian countryside, has spent years perfecting the art of scratching herself using a variety of objects, including sticks, rakes, and deck brushes.
The researchers, led by Dr. Antonio Osuna-Mascaro of the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, were astonished to find that Veronika utilised both ends of the same object for different tasks. “We were not expecting cows to be able to use tools, and we were not expecting a cow to use a tool as a multipurpose tool,” Dr. Osuna-Mascaro said. “Until now, this has only been consistently reported in chimpanzees.”
This kind of tool use is rarely seen in the animal kingdom and has never been documented in cattle before. The researchers believe that other cows may possess similar abilities that have gone unnoticed, and they are now considering the possibility that bovine intelligence may be far greater than previously assumed.
Veronika’s owner, Witgar Wiegele, hopes that her unexpected talents will inspire people to value the natural world. “Save the nature, then you protect yourself,” Wiegele said. “Nature diversity is the key to survive on this planet.”
The discovery of Veronika’s tool-using abilities has significant implications for our understanding of animal cognition and the diversity of intelligence in the natural world. As the research continues, it will be fascinating to see what other insights emerge about the hidden capabilities of cattle and other species we may have underestimated.
