Uganda

In Uganda, one chimpanzee taught the rest of her group to dig for water in sand.

A young female began digging small holes in the sandy ground beside a water hole. Then she waited a few seconds for water to seep through the sand before drinking. As it passes through the grains, debris and contaminants can be filtered out, so the wells may provide better water than the stagnant water around them.

The others watched. At first, they used her wells. Later, more of them began digging their own.

One idea. One chimpanzee. Then more.