Chimps digging wells shows learned behavior that may help amid climate change
A remarkable discovery in Uganda’s Budongo Forest has revealed that chimpanzees are learning new ways to survive in a changing climate. In the Waibira community, a group of rainforest-dwelling chimpanzees has been observed digging wells to access cleaner water—something scientists had never seen in such a lush environment. This behaviour, first noticed in 2017 and traced back to video footage from 2015, is spreading through the group and offers fresh insights into how animals can adapt to environmental stress.
The discovery came as a surprise to researchers from the University of Kent and the University of St Andrews. In rainforests like Budongo, water is generally abundant and easily accessible. Streams and puddles are common. But the dry season, which arrives each year, makes water sources muddy or shallow. In these times, cleaner water becomes harder to access. That’s when some chimps started to dig.
Until now, well-digging had only been seen in chimpanzee communities living in much drier, savannah-type environments. To find this behaviour in a rainforest, where water scarcity is generally not a major issue, challenged scientists’ expectations. It suggested that the chimps weren’t just reacting to drought but were also responding in creative ways to shifting conditions in their habitat. This kind of flexibility is rare and may be critical for their survival.
The story becomes even more interesting when looking at how the behaviour spread. Researchers believe it all started with a female chimpanzee named Onyofi. She arrived in the Waibira group in 2015 after leaving another community. Onyofi already knew how to dig for water. Scientists think she learned the skill in her previous home. Once she joined the Waibira chimps, others started to watch her closely.
Young chimps and adult females were often seen observing Onyofi as she dug small wells with her hands and drank the water that pooled up. Soon, they began to copy her. Even the dominant males, who usually take the lead in chimp society, didn’t try to interrupt. Instead, they waited patiently to use the wells she had dug. This demonstrated the value of the new skill.
What this tells scientists is that chimpanzees don’t just learn on their own—they learn from each other. This is known as cultural transmission. In this case, the new behaviour was passed from one individual to many others through observation. And it supports a growing body of research that shows female chimpanzees, especially those that move between groups, are often responsible for introducing new ideas and habits. Onyofi may be just one example, but her impact is significant.
As climate change intensifies, even rainforest animals like chimpanzees are feeling the effects. Dry seasons are becoming hotter and longer, and clean water is becoming harder to find, even in places once considered stable. This well-digging behaviour might become a vital tool in the chimps’ survival kit. It gives them a new way to find water during tough times. And scientists believe that the ability to dig for water might not just be about staying hydrated. The water accessed through wells may be cleaner or have a different mineral composition, which could make it more attractive or beneficial to the chimps.
This behaviour also raises important questions for conservation. Chimpanzees are already under threat from habitat loss, poaching, and disease. But their ability to adapt and learn new behaviours may offer a glimmer of hope. Understanding these cultural traits can help scientists and conservationists develop more effective plans to protect them. If chimpanzees can change how they live in response to new pressures, then protecting their ability to learn and thrive becomes even more important.
The intelligence and adaptability shown by the Waibira chimps remind us that animals are not passive victims of climate change. They’re active participants in their own survival. The fact that one immigrant chimp could introduce a life-saving behaviour—and that others could pick it up so quickly—speaks to the power of shared learning in the animal world.
As climate change continues to reshape ecosystems around the globe, we can expect to see more of this kind of innovation from wildlife. In Budongo Forest, well-digging may soon become the norm for chimpanzees, not just the exception. This quiet but powerful behaviour offers a new reason to protect chimpanzees—and a new window into the rich, evolving cultures of our closest relatives.
