How do chimpanzees combine sticks and leafy sponges to collect water?

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A common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) sits on a rock holding a long blade of grass in its mouth, with dense green foliage in the background. — chimpanzee The West African, or masked, chimpanzee (*Pan troglodytes verus*) is a critically endangered subspecies of chimpanzee.

Chimpanzees in the Guinea region demonstrate sophisticated problem-solving abilities by using tools in combination, a practice known as a "tool composite." To collect water from tree hollows, they push a "leafy sponge"—typically a handful of folded leaves or moss—into the hollow to absorb the liquid. They then use a stick to retrieve the saturated sponge, allowing them to drink the water it has collected.1

This behavior highlights the high level of intelligence and tool use found in chimpanzees, as well as the existence of culture within these primate groups, where specific techniques are passed down through social learning from one generation to the next.1