Intro: Inside the Animal Mind: The Problem Solvers (01:57)

FREE PREVIEW

For centuries, it has been thought that animals behave purely out of instinct. This program reveals new research of animals with problem solving minds.

New Caledonian Crows (03:39)

Dr. Alex Taylor designs a test to determine if a crow can solve a complex problem.

Puzzle Solving Crow (04:04)

Watch "007" solve an 8-stage puzzle.

Waggle Dance (04:42)

In this instinctive behavior, honey bees direct nest-mates to a food source through a transmission of angles and distances.

Brann the Raven (03:14)

The bird uses water to retrieve a trapped piece of food from a bottle.

Raven vs Dog vs Human (03:15)

Of the three, the raven is the only one to complete the puzzle of removing a green ball from a plastic box.

Problem Solving Abilities (03:52)

In this experiment, a Eurasian Jay demonstrates: the ability to understand cause and effect and flexible thinking.

Brain-to-Body Mass Ratio (02:52)

Humans, crows and chimpanzees all have large brains for their body size.

Discovery of Chimpanzees Using Tools (02:51)

Jane Goodall observed chimps using blades of grass to retrieve insects.

Skill of Imagination (04:34)

Muppet, the cockatoo, is tested to see if he is using learned behavior to undo a series of locks.

Caching Animals (01:45)

Squirrels and corvids are well known for stashing food for future use.

Ability of Mental Time Travel (03:17)

An experiment demonstrates the ability of the western scrub jay to think ahead and anticipate future needs.

Delayed Gratification Challenge (01:43)

Humans must the develop the ability of mental time travel.

Octopus Survival Strategy (02:59)

The octopus demonstrates problem solving abiltities similar to great apes parrots and crows. It uses a coconut shell to hide from predators.

Varied Diet = Varied Lifestyle (02:08)

Animals that have adapted in the way they live tend to be predator and prey.

Sharing New Tool Ideas (04:21)

A New Caledonia crow crafts a hook to catch prey. Different crows use different tools and the tools improve with each generation.

Credits: Inside the Animal Mind: The Problem Solvers (00:48)

Credits: Inside the Animal Mind: The Problem Solvers