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Monkeys 'can learn skills'

Friday 30 March, 2007

New research has found evidence to support the theory that monkeys are able to learn skills from each other, potentially indicating that monkeys have culture.

According to the results of a study by Dr Antonio Moura, a researcher from the Department of Biological Anthropology at the University of Cambridge, the Capuchin monkeys in Brazil are able to teach the banging of stones, reports the Telegraph.

"We already know that these monkey populations use stones as tools to dig holes or to forage and questions remain about why this happens in this area," said Dr Moura.

"Because it is quite dry and barren, it is possible they learn these skills from one another because they have to develop them quickly," he added.

The monkeys reportedly bang the stones in order to ward off predators, but Dr Moura has confirmed that more research into the findings would be desirable for further information to emerge.

Capuchin monkeys can be found throughout Central and South America.

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