Which one of the following makes a tool with a stick to scrape insects from a hole in a tree or a log of wood? (UPSC Prelims 2023)

Question

The correct answer is [B] Orangutan. This question tests knowledge of animal behavior and tool-use capabilities in the wild.

Orangutans (Statement B – Correct): Known for their high intelligence, orangutans are documented using sticks as tools for \"extractive foraging.\" They select branches, strip them of leaves, and use them to poke into tree holes to reach insects, termites, or honey. They also use tools to extract seeds from fruits like the Neesia.
Fishing Cat (Statement A – Incorrect): These are medium-sized wild cats found in South and Southeast Asia. They are specialized hunters of fish and use their partially webbed paws to scoop prey out of water, but they do not use sticks as tools.
Otter (Statement C – Incorrect): While some species, like Sea Otters, use stones as \"anvils\" to crack open shellfish, they do not typically use sticks to scrape insects from tree logs.
Sloth Bear (Statement D – Incorrect): Sloth bears have specialized physical adaptations for eating insects, such as long claws to rip open logs and a missing pair of upper incisors to suck up termites (myrmecophagy), but they rely on these physical traits rather than stick-based tools.

Tool use is most prominent among great apes (chimpanzees, orangutans) and certain bird species (like the New Caledonian crow).

GKToday Admin · Accepted Answer

Orangutan The correct answer is [B] Orangutan. This question tests knowledge of animal behavior and tool-use capabilities in the wild.

Orangutans (Statement B – Correct): Known for their high intelligence, orangutans are documented using sticks as tools for \"extractive foraging.\" They select branches, strip them of leaves, and use them to poke into tree holes to reach insects, termites, or honey. They also use tools to extract seeds from fruits like the Neesia.
Fishing Cat (Statement A – Incorrect): These are medium-sized wild cats found in South and Southeast Asia. They are specialized hunters of fish and use their partially webbed paws to scoop prey out of water, but they do not use sticks as tools.
Otter (Statement C – Incorrect): While some species, like Sea Otters, use stones as \"anvils\" to crack open shellfish, they do not typically use sticks to scrape insects from tree logs.
Sloth Bear (Statement D – Incorrect): Sloth bears have specialized physical adaptations for eating insects, such as long claws to rip open logs and a missing pair of upper incisors to suck up termites (myrmecophagy), but they rely on these physical traits rather than stick-based tools.

Tool use is most prominent among great apes (chimpanzees, orangutans) and certain bird species (like the New Caledonian crow).

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