Primates Using Sticks to Get into Termite Mounds for Food

When we think of animals using tools, our closest relatives in the animal kingdom are usually the first to come to mind. One of the most famous and fascinating examples of this behavior is primates using sticks to get into termite mounds.

If you have ever watched a nature documentary and wondered how chimpanzees pull this off—or why they spend hours doing it—here is a clear breakdown of the science, skill, and culture behind this incredible behavior.

What Is Termite Fishing?

Termite fishing is a highly precise and deliberate hunting technique. Termites live in massive, fortress-like mounds made of hardened mud and soil that protect the colony inside. These mounds are incredibly tough—often compared to concrete—meaning large predators cannot easily smash them open.

To bypass these defenses and reach the protein-rich insects inside, chimpanzees have developed a workaround. They find a twig, blade of grass, or vine, and carefully thread it into the small, natural ventilation holes of the termite mound.

Once the tool is inside, the chimpanzee waits. When the soldier termites bite down on the invading stick to defend their colony, the chimpanzee gently pulls the stick out. According to a 2020 study by Osuna-Mascaró and colleagues in the American Journal of Primatology, these primates utilize a very specific repertoire of hand-to-mouth movements to withdraw the tool smoothly, ensuring they do not knock the insects off before they can eat them.

The Discovery That Rewrote Science

Before 1960, humans were widely considered the only species capable of making and using tools. That assumption changed forever in the forests of Gombe Stream, Tanzania.

It was there that a young researcher named Dr. Jane Goodall observed a wild chimpanzee carefully stripping the leaves off a twig and using the modified stick to fish for termites.

This observation was groundbreaking. It proved that non-human primates do not just randomly use objects they find; they intentionally modify materials in their environment to serve a specific purpose. Goodall’s 1964 publication in the journal Nature forced the scientific community to completely rethink primate intelligence and redefine what separates humans from other animals.

How Chimps Craft the Perfect Tool

Chimpanzees do not simply pick up a random stick off the ground; they actively manufacture their gear, and the process is surprisingly complex.

They carefully select the right material—often a flexible plant stem that will not snap inside the mound—and trim off any leaves or extra branches that would get in the way. What is truly fascinating is that different communities of chimpanzees have developed entirely different manufacturing techniques, similar to regional human cultures.

For example, according to a pivotal 2009 study by Sanz, Call, and Morgan, chimpanzees living in the Goualougo Triangle of the Republic of Congo deliberately modify plant stems by pulling them through their teeth to fray the ends. This creates a “brush-tipped” probe.

The researchers found that this brush design is incredibly efficient, acting like a paintbrush to catch significantly more termites per dip than a standard straight stick. If the frayed tip breaks while they are fishing, the chimpanzee will stop, bite the end to repair the brush, and get back to work.

Years in the Making: How Young Primates Learn

Tool use is not an instinct chimpanzees are born with; it is a learned cultural skill that takes years of practice to master. Young chimpanzees learn by intensely observing their mothers and older peers.

According to research published by biological anthropologist Elizabeth Lonsdorf, it takes a young chimpanzee about four to five years to become fully proficient at gathering termites. They spend hours watching how the adults select materials, shape the tools, and find the right holes in the mounds.

Interestingly, studies show that young females often master the skill earlier than males. Females tend to closely and carefully mimic the exact tool-making techniques used by their mothers, while young males often spend more time playing instead of practicing. This prolonged learning period highlights just how deeply complex chimpanzee social structures really are.

Why Go Through All the Effort?

While a chimpanzee’s diet consists mostly of fruit, leaves, and seeds, they are actually omnivores. So why spend hours poking a stick into a dirt mound?

The simple answer is nutrition. Termites serve as an incredibly important dietary supplement. They are packed with fat, calories, and essential proteins that can be hard to find in standard forest foliage, especially during certain times of the year.

Furthermore, termite fishing is highly strategic. Chimpanzees know exactly when the termite colonies are most active. A 2023 study by Phillips and colleagues in the Issa Valley of Tanzania revealed that chimpanzees time their fishing to perfectly match the early wet season. During this time, winged termites create temporary “flight holes” near the surface of the mound, making them much easier to reach. By understanding these seasonal cycles, chimpanzees maximize their calorie intake while expending the least amount of effort possible.