“Hermit” tortoises, in this case the red-footed tortoise, learn by imitating other tortoises. The experimenters conclude that social learning is based on cognitive ability, not an evolved specialized learning skill. The red-footed tortoise grows up without parents or siblings, and shuns others of its species. Cognitive learning, in the case of this experiment, consisted of a puzzle to solve for attaining a treat — which does not work with human hermits!
Hermits around the web – Hermitary
news, sites, and pages of interest about hermits and solitude