How do chimpanzees use leaves as drinking tools?

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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 utilize leaves as drinking tools by creating what are known as "leafy sponges." To do this, they take a handful of leaves—or sometimes moss—and fold them to absorb water.1

These sponges are highly effective for accessing water that is otherwise difficult to reach. For instance, chimpanzees in the Guinea region have been observed pushing these leafy sponges into hollows of trees where water has collected. Once the sponge is saturated, they withdraw it to drink the water they have collected. In some cases, they may even use sticks to help retrieve these wet sponges from deep within tree hollows. This behavior is a clear example of the sophisticated tool use and culture found within chimpanzee populations, where such techniques are passed down through social learning from elders to younger members of the group.1