WATCH: KZN monkeys are getting the hang of using a touchscreen
KwaZulu-Natal's monkeys are showing their hidden talents...
It is common knowledge that monkeys and humans are closely related - and this is set to bridge that gap even further.
Monkeys in KwaZulu-Natal are starting to get the hang of smart devices.
Read more: Monkey invasion! Here's how to safely interact with monkeys in KZN
According to Business Insider, monkeys in a KZN reserve have made history by becoming the first wild animals to learn to use a touchscreen.
This has been seen as a massive breakthrough in scientific circles.
This means that scientists are expected to be able to study intelligence in non-human primates without having to keep them in captivity.
Finally, we analysed performance on the final training task Tecla presented. In this task, monkeys had to learn to touch a blue square to get a reward. The square changed position on each trial. In this video, you can see adult male Ouagadougou having a go. pic.twitter.com/Y22XfBGYsX
— Dr Rachel Harrison (@RachelAHarrison) January 13, 2023
However, there has also been a warning from the researchers at Mawana Game Reserve.
The researchers say monkeys using these touchscreens in close proximity to humans could be risky.
WATCH: Monkey comforting a man who was sad goes viral
Erica van de Waal is the team leader of the iNkawu Vervet Project at Mawana.
Their work revolves around an experiment where a 15kg box containing a screen, a battery, and corn kernels is used. It is tied to a tree and uses an active web hotspot.
Whenever the small monkeys touch a blue square on the screen - first in a static position and then as it moves around the screen – they earn a few kernels of corn dispensed through a chute.
We look forward to hearing more about this research and what it means for us humans and our relationship with wild animals in the future.
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Main image attribution: Rachel Harrison