Can Animals Create a Culture? Many animals, such as a group of monkeys in Japan,
were observed and proved that a development of animal culture is indeed
possible. Culture, unlike instinctive behavior, is usually learned or taught.
The unusual behavior that was specifically observed was a group of monkeys who
developed a strange habit of washing their food before eating them. When a group
of scientists observed them, they realized that it all began in 1952. One young
female found potatoes on the beach and washed it before eating. Then, she
demonstrated this technique to all her babies and friends. After 10 years, every
monkey in the troop had picked up this habit also. This an example of a
developed culture within a group of monkeys.