Veronika the Genius Cow: The First Known Cow to Use Tools

A Swiss cow named Veronika is drawing scientific attention after appearing to use a broom-like tool to scratch an itch—behavior researchers often associate with more widely studied tool users. In the footage, the thirteen-year-old Brown cow switches between a mounted brush and a wooden handle depending on what she needs, suggesting deliberate, repeatable choices rather than a one-off accident. Researchers say the behavior may have started around nine years ago, after she experimented with fallen branches for scratching. The big question now is whether Veronika’s “multi-tool” behavior can be verified and observed consistently across time. If you spot this in an update clip, look for the moment she picks up the handle and repositions it to reach a specific spot.