Solving Problems Elephants are among the most intelligent animals in the world. So it’s no surprise that elephants make and use tools. Tools help them solve problems. For example, Asian elephants oſt en have problems with biting flies. Many elephants use branches and plants to swat flies from their bodies. A long stick can also be used to scratch a hard-to-reach itch. If an elephant gets thirsty, it digs a


hole to find water. But if an elephant wants to be able to drink from that same hole again later, it uses tools. T e elephant rips bark from a tree. It chews the bark into the shape of a ball. T en it plugs the water hole with the bark ball. Later, when it’s thirsty, it returns to this spot for a drink.


Group Behavior Wild orangutans don’t leave home without their tool kits. T ey have tools to help them pick insects out of trees. T ey also have tools to pry seeds out of hard fruits. Orangutans in Borneo make


whistles out of bunches of leaves. Blowing into the leaves makes their call louder. T e loud sound can scare off predators.


8 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER


Animals and Tools Scientists are still learning a lot about animals and tools. It’s clear that tool use no longer separates humans from other animals, as was once believed. Many animals make and use tools.


Tools help them survive in their environments.


Elephants use tools to solve problems, like how to scratch an itch.


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