In their natural habitat, the babun has been seen looking at their reflections in the mirrors, but have failed to recognize themselves. Despite reacting to a visible dot on his arms or legs, the primates showed no response when a laser dot was introduced on his face, while they were in front of a mirror. Conclusions suggest that there may be a lack of self-awareness in wild babuns, a feature seen earlier in some other species under laboratory conditions. Research raises questions about whether self-recognition in animals is congenital or develops through experience.
Wild Babun Studies
according to a Study Royal Society B: Published in the proceedings of Biological Sciences, Tsobis Nature Park, Namibia, was used in five months. Large mirrors were often installed near water sources by two soldiers of Chakma Babun (Sino Ursins). When Babun saw in mirrors, researchers directed a laser dot on their cheeks or ears to assess their reactions. The purpose of the study is to determine whether these primets can connect the reflection with their body.
Conclusions suggest lack of self-recognition
Alasia Carter, a evolutionary humanist at University College London, told Science is reported that self-awareness is a complex concept, making it difficult to assess in animals. The mark test, which involves placing an unseen mark on the face of an animal and observing its reaction in a mirror, first to test the self-recognition in chimpanzi, oranges, dolphins and even some fish species Has been taken.
Despite showing interest in mirrors, Baboon did not react to the mark on his face. When laser dots were placed on body parts that appear like weapons or legs, 64 percent of the 91 Babuns touched the spot. However, out of 51 bubbons that appeared in the mirror, while the dot was on their face or ear, only one replied. Some people appeared to notice the mark, but did not try to touch their face.
Self-awareness may exist on a spectrum
James Anderson, a primetologist at Kyoto University, told Science News that the research supports the current findings that non-APE primates do not recognize themselves in the mirror. While some trained recyzes in laboratory conditions have learned to use mirrors for self-exploration, Babun did not show any such behavior in this study.
Masanori Kohada, an animal sociologist at Osaka Metropolitan University, suggested that the laser mark cannot be considered as part of the body. He said that since the dot does not run in the sink with his face, the primates may have interpreted it as a mark on the mirror instead of their reflection.
Lindsay Murray, a psychologist at Chester University, stated that self-awareness develops gradually in humans, only 65 percent of children undergo mirror testing until the age of two years. He said that the increasing number of researchers now consider self-awareness as a feature that exists on a continuity rather than a binary feature.
Carter said that self-awareness may not be necessary for existence in Babun. He said that primates thrive in their natural environment without the need to recognize their own reflections, suggests that self-recognition may not be necessary for all species.
