Learning and innovation in urban yellow mongooses (Cynictis penicillata)

Abstract

Problem-solving and innovation have been studied extensively, yet urban animals are overlooked despite opportunities to innovate in urban areas. We studied problem-solving in yellow mongooses (Cynictis penicillata) in an urban setting. Using novel puzzle box experiments, we investigated whether yellow mongooses could solve a task of increasing complexity in three locations with varying extents of anthropogenic interactions. Mongooses in a residential ecological estate took the longest time to solve the problem, whereas those frequenting a residential garden solved the problem the fastest. Mongooses solved the puzzle box problem at each of the four stages of complexity, but were the fastest during the least complex first stage, followed by the third stage and requiring more time in the second and fourth stages of complexity. Overall, the location of the mongoose colonies and the complexity of the task were the main correlates of the speed of solving the problem. Urban-living yellow mongooses can interact with novelty in an anthropogenic environment and solve novel problems through innovation to obtain a food incentive.