In Austria, a cow learned to use a stick to chase away flies

In the Austrian Alps, in the village of Nech, there lives a cow named Veronika, who has turned 13 years old. Her owner does not use her for milk or meat production, but keeps her as a pet. Like all cows, Veronika suffers from flies, but instead of swatting them away with her tail, she has learned to use a stick to drive them off, reports DW.

Scientists from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna have stated that this is the first recorded case of a cow using tools. The results of the study were published in the international scientific journal Current Biology.

Zoologists emphasize that this skill is a significant achievement. Previously, similar actions were only observed in chimpanzees. During 70 experiments with Veronika, researchers noted that she consistently succeeded in the tasks set for her, including using a long-handled brush to scratch her back.

“We have no reason to consider cows to be stupid creatures. Veronika is not a genius among her kind, but she is different from most cows on the planet in that she is kept as a pet rather than for milk or meat. She has had a rich life with a variety of activities and objects to interact with. Furthermore, she has lived to a quite advanced age,” noted study co-author Alisa Auerhspreg.