Creativity in the Animal Kingdom

It can be said that we, as humans, are the only truly intelligent species on the planet; in that we are the only example of a species that can intelligently question the nature of our own being. Is it then possible that we are also the only species capable of creativity? Can an animal use its intuition and knowledge to act in a creative manner, or is it simply an act of imitation?

The term 'imitation' is often clouded with the misconception that it implies a kind of thoughtless 'copying' , but in this case it is a far more complex subject area. There must be a conscious connection between the action and its consequence. There are countless examples in scientific experiments of imitation in the animal kingdom; ranging from animals such as budgerigars and rats, to chimps and orangutans.

Take for example this video of an elephant, one of the most intelligent animals on the planet, painting an image of what appears to be a graphic representation of another elephant;



I'm sure there are some who would like to think that the elephant has a conscious awareness of what it is doing, that it's aware it is producing a representation of its own image through freewill - behaviour that would have to fall under the definition of creative. But rationally speaking it appears as though, through a system of repitition and reward (such as you might employ with the teaching of a domestic animal), the elephant has been taught to imitate and carry out an action knowing it will be rewarded, most likely with food. The elephant is not acting creatively, merely following a path it knows to have a desired end result.

But what of animals who act independently of human interference, those who can appear to act creatively as a means for survival. The following clip shows, amongst other things, a chimpanzee utilising stones as a hammer and anvil in order to break the hard shell of a nut it wishes to eat.



A fascinating clip which serves to highlight the evolutionary link between humans and chimpanzees. The ability to be creative is what seperates us as humans from other living organisms; but what we see here is arguably an example of a species, outside of our own, using creative thought in a purposeful way. Is this example merely some form of imitation being put to use after a chance encounter or experience? I'm not sure. What I do know is it would only have taken the actions of one chimpanzee in order to make this 'creative' behaviour commonplace among its culture.