[Lewis Thomson (OP)]

Donald has submitted a strange question to us at the Naked Scientists

"Chimpanzees have been seen to use modified sticks (for termite extraction) and throw rocks and faeces for defence. They teach their young. They live in social groups. This is probably unethical, but if a troupe were given access to sharp pointed sticks, would they be able to reason ways to use them for defence, hunting, mate competition, etc, eventually? Humans have already involved captive chimps in innumerable intelligence tests. Are these chimps permitted to breed and teach their young?"

Leave you answers in the comments below...

[Origin]

This is probably unethical, but if a troupe were given access to sharp pointed sticks, would they be able to reason ways to use them for defence, hunting, mate competition, etc, eventually?

No, they are not smart enough and they do not have the dexterity to make or use tools (even pointy sticks) effectively.

[alancalverd]

Chimpanzees are too strong, dexterous and intelligent to behave like humans.

[Origin]

Chimpanzees are too strong, dexterous and intelligent to behave like humans.

LOL. 

[evan_au]

chimps ...teach their young

Chimpanzees do learn skills from watching their mothers ("monkey see, monkey do").
- But I have a vague recollection that they did not go quite as far as the human approach of the teacher then watching the student, and correcting their technique.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimpanzee

[vhfpmr]

It's been tried. It didn't end well.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nim_Chimpsky