Austrian Cow Learns to Use Tools to Scratch Herself
An Austrian cow named Veronika taught herself in 2016 to use fallen branches to scratch herself, becoming the first known case of cattle using tools.
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An Austrian cow named Veronika has become an unusual case study in animal intelligence after researchers documented her using objects as tools. She began picking up fallen branches years ago and learned to use them to reach itchy parts of her body that she could not easily scratch herself. Researchers later tested the behavior with a brush and found that she could manipulate the object deliberately rather than simply rubbing against it. She could use different parts of the same tool for different areas of her body, including the bristled portion for tougher skin and the smoother handle for more sensitive areas. That flexibility is what makes the behavior especially notable. The researchers described this as the first documented example of tool use in cattle. They also cautioned against treating Veronika as an isolated animal genius. One possibility is that similar abilities exist in other cattle but have rarely been noticed or studied. Her case adds to broader research showing that animal abilities can be difficult to recognize when researchers are not looking for the right kinds of behavior.
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