Date Time How do animals solve problems? James Cook University researchers believe studying individual animals – rather than groups or species – may unlock the secret of how animals solve problems. JCU PhD student Misha Rowell said increasing concerns over human-induced rapid environmental change has led to a need to understand how animals will cope with these challenges. She said animals must be able to solve problems to access food and avoid predators, but not all species, populations, or even individuals, can solve problems, or can solve problems in the same way. “Differences in problem-solving ability could be due to differences in how animals develop and grow, including differences in their genetics, hormones, age, and/or environmental conditions.