Observations on tool use in captive lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus)

Abstract

Lion-tailed macaques in Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Garden, Mysore, India were observed to use several tools (plastic piece, candy wrapper, leaf, vegetable leaf, egg-shell and coconut shell) to drink water from the pool. Here we report the simple multiple tool use in the species. The behaviour was first observed in an adult male. This male was confiscated and was probably hand-reared. It started using tools within a short period of introduction. After some time, the other captive monkeys also started to use multiple tools in a similar way to drink water. This may be an example of social learning.