How do chimpanzees use tool sets to collect termites?

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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 demonstrate remarkable intelligence through the use of tools, including the sophisticated application of "tool sets" to forage for termites.

In the Congo basin, for example, chimpanzees utilize a two-step process to access this food source. They first employ a stout stick to dig into a termite mound, creating an opening. Once the mound is breached, they switch to a second tool—a long, slender wand—which they use to "fish" for the termites inside.1

This behavior is part of a broader repertoire of tool use that varies by region. These skills are not innate but are passed down through social learning, as younger chimpanzees observe and acquire these techniques from their elders. This transmission of information across generations is a key indicator of culture within chimpanzee societies.1