Dindefelo, Senegal – Researchers have uncovered new details about how savanna-dwelling chimpanzees capture and consume army ants using specially crafted tools in one of Africa’s harshest environments.

A study led by the University of Barcelona and the Jane Goodall Institute Spain has, for the first time, documented the strategies used by chimpanzees in savanna conditions to extract aggressive army ants from underground nests and feed on them.

The research focused on chimpanzees living in Dindefelo in southeastern Senegal, where scientists observed tool use in dry, hot habitats unlike previously studied forest environments.

Chimpanzees were found to use sticks modified with peeled bark or frayed ends, selecting tools from eight different plant species, mainly lianas. They place these tools in their mouths and trim the tips with their teeth before using them to access ant nests.

Researchers also noted that one of the selected plant species contains chemical compounds believed to have a calming effect, suggesting possible intentional selection to reduce discomfort from ant bites.

The study recorded 156 feeding events between 2018 and 2022, showing that consuming army ants is a complex process that requires significant learning and adaptation.

Army ants are described as highly nutritious insects rich in protein and minerals and form some of the largest insect colonies on Earth, making them an important food source for chimpanzees across Africa.

Scientists found that savanna chimpanzees do not use fundamentally different extraction strategies compared with forest populations, although behavior varies depending on the aggressiveness of different ant species.

Researchers also confirmed that chimpanzees across Africa adjust their feeding techniques depending on the type of army ants they target.

The study builds on earlier findings showing that the same chimpanzees return to specific ant nests over multiple years to feed.

Scientists involved in the research say studying savanna chimpanzees is important for understanding human evolution, since early hominin species are believed to have evolved in similar environments.

They also warn that West African chimpanzees are critically endangered, emphasizing the importance of understanding how they survive in environments where food, water, and shelter can be scarce during long dry seasons.

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