Wild animals react hilariously to seeing their own reflection for the first time (VIDEO)

Scientists wanted to learn how animals would react to a mirror.

A mirror test is a method used to test animals on self-recognition when they see reflections of themselves in a mirror. It helps measure their self-awareness and whether they will are able to realize they are looking at themselves rather than another animal of the same species.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - A mirror test was conducted by Xavier Hubert Brierre, a French photographer who travelled all the way to Gabon to set up large mirrors and hidden motion sensor cameras in the jungle. The cameras immediately captured all the wild animals walking by and seeing themselves in the mirrors.

Brierre's test was a definite success in terms of finding out if the animals, captured by the cameras that he and his wife have set up, have enough self-awareness to distinguish themselves. The results are not just enthralling but also hilarious and entertaining. Several videos of the animals have been shared all over the internet and some of the clips will surely fascinate and educate viewers about how different animals can be.

While some animals, such as a silver back gorilla and a leopard, tried to charge and paw their own reflections, believing they were seeing another animal, there were some that seemed to enjoy seeing themselves in the mirror.

A pack chimpanzees tried to figure out what was going on at first, but eventually eased in and got comfortable with their own reflections. There were even some who appeared to preen themselves. An elephant saw itself in the mirror, stopped for a few seconds and just walked away when it realized it was seeing its reflection.

Despite spending hours cleaning and re-setting the mirrors and cameras and constant insect attacks, Brierre and his wife deemed that this experiment a huge success.

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