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Abstract

The ability to solve novel problems is crucial for the survival and fitness of individuals living in dynamic environments. Studies of problem-solving date back to the beginning of the past century, but our knowledge is nonetheless still limited to very few taxa. In this study, we aimed to test a species of the order Carnivora, sloth bears (Melursus ursinus), on the ability to solve a novel foraging task. Bears were individually presented with honey spread on the wall and a familiar bucket, and, depending on the condition, they had to move the bucket and climb on it to access the honey. In follow-up conditions, they also repeatedly received cues to help them solve the task: before being tested, they either observed a human experimenter solving the problem or received direct relevant experience about how to solve the task. Despite high motivation, and in contrast to our predictions, none of the tested bears used the bucket to access out-of-reach food, even when social information and direct relevant experience were provided. These findings suggest that bears in this task may have failed to cognitively represent the problem and recognize the relevant aspects that would have led to its solution