Taking selfies, using tools or opening doors is no problem for bears. Researchers have now questioned what else they could learn.
Previous research suggests that bears, similar to elephants and great apes, are much more intelligent than previously thought. In addition, there are impressive qualities of Master Petz, such as the sense of smell, which is seven times better than that of a bloodhound. Or the sprint speed of a grizzly bear with up to 56 kilometers per hour. In addition, despite their size, bears are very dexterous and can open glasses and doors, as well as operate touch screens.
Investigated: Bears are more intelligent than expected – what else do they learn?
For those who believe in the "hypothesis of social intelligence", the abilities of the bears may come as a surprise. Finally, the assumption assumes that social animals are more intelligent than loners, as interactive environments present more cognitive challenges. For example, most animals with a high degree of intelligence live in groups or herds. A study with horses, for example, was able to show that keeping them in a group affects their ability to understand humans.
Bears, however, are loners. Their brain, however, is relatively large compared to their body weight – a ratio that suggests intelligence. Researchers therefore suspect that their brains are less shaped by social situations, but much more by the challenging environment in which they live. Their ability to respond quickly and adaptably to external stimuli could explain brain development. A bear also reacted quickly when a climber invaded her territory.
Investigated: Bears are highly adaptable and versatile all-rounders
"Both black bears and brown bears are generalists who are very versatile in terms of their food, how they get it, and where to find it," Jennifer Vonk, a psychology professor at Oakland University, tells Popular Science. They hunt and plunder, but also search for plants, nuts and fruits. Or find soda cans in a car. In addition, bears adapt to the season: in autumn they gain weight, in winter they hibernate. And they can do almost anywhere: be it "in the Arctic, in the desert or in the tropics," adds Lynne Nelson, a professor of veterinary cardiology at Washington University. This variable and unpredictable environment may have led to the higher intelligence of bears. Sometimes they even surprise people with their whereabouts, for example, when they sit in a dumpster.
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The intelligence of bears could also be the result of their early development. This is because young animals like to play with each other, which, according to Gordon Burghardt, professor of animal behavior at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, is conducive to their development. It is often believed that play promotes learning and mental development and is a method of movement and stress relief. Freshly awakened from hibernation, bears sometimes jump on a trampoline.
Investigated: Bears are curious and help themselves with tools
But the fact that bears are "naturally more curious than other animal species," as Vonk says, could also explain their intelligence. The best proof of this is the selfie bear, who took over 400 pictures of himself with a wildlife camera. The selfie bear is a unique example of a type of animal perception that scientists are just beginning to understand. The scientist was also able to find out that bears can count and know how to use computers. The latter even faster than chimpanzees or gorillas. In addition, the wild animals can recognize images and the objects depicted on them. For example, the black bears studied were able to distinguish polar bears from other bear species in the test. Even in the most abstract categories, which involve distinguishing between animals and non-animals, they performed surprisingly well.
However, there is another intriguing ability that suggests advanced intelligence: studies have shown that bears are able to use tools for their own benefit. For decades, the use of tools was considered the defining characteristic of humans – something that proved how intelligent we are. Although research into the intelligence of bears is still in its infancy, it already shows a natural wonder and at the same time that the probability of survival of bears, despite great challenges, is greater than assumed. The question remains as to what bears will learn in the future and whether they may become a threat. Commenting on Popular Science's Facebook post, one user joked: "If they start using ChatGPT, we're really in trouble."
