Veronica, a friendly Swiss brown cow, learned to use the end of a stick to scratch her back, a rare display of flexible tool use by an animal, and particularly cattle, which had not been previously documented. Dr. Antonio Osuna-Mascaró from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna led a study on Veronica's tool use, recently published in the journal 'Current Biology'. Initially, the team gave her a broom, expecting her to use only the bristle end. When a gentler touch was needed, such as on a sensitive belly area, she used the smooth end of the handle. Veronica adjusts the force of her scratches depending on the area. Osuna-Mascaró told BBC Science Focus: 'The only other well-documented case of something similar comes from chimpanzees, in those rare instances when they fish for termites using the tips of a single stick together.' Researchers point out that behavioral scientists have largely overlooked cattle, meaning what might be seen as a lack of intelligence may reflect more a lack of observation than the nature of the animals themselves. 'It's important to know that cattle have the capacity for innovation and flexible tool use because this sends a strong message about our bias regarding their intelligence and abilities,' said Osuna-Mascaró. As a beloved pet, Veronica was allowed to roam large areas, interact daily with humans, and was given the freedom to explore and innovate in her environment. Veronica is 13 years old, far older than the average lifespan for most cows. Osuna-Mascaró added: 'We would like to hear from people who have seen cattle do something like this.' He explained: 'The key element is: holding a moving body and using it as part of the body to reach goals that are difficult or impossible to reach otherwise.'
