A new study suggests that beluga whales may be able to recognize themselves in a mirror, a trait linked to self-awareness and once thought to be uniquely human.
Researchers at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s New York Aquarium observed two beluga whales, Natasha and her daughter Maris, at the New York Aquarium where two-way mirrors were installed to better understand the species’ cognitive abilities.
According to research published on May 20, the whales appear to be closely observing their reflections, blowing bubbles, making circular movements, and examining features such as their faces and teeth – behavior that scientists say is consistent with self-recognition.
“And that’s where the light bulb seemed to go on when they found out it was me,” said Diana Reiss, a marine mammal scientist and cognitive psychologist based in New York.
Reiss said scientists don’t fully understand what drives this ability, but it appears to be related to traits such as having a large brain relative to body size.
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Self-recognition has only been observed in certain groups of animals, including bottlenose dolphins, Asian elephants, magpies, and great apes.
Scientists say this ability is usually found in species that are highly intelligent, social and capable of empathy, including humans.
The findings come as no surprise to Valeria Vergara, a whale biologist based in British Columbia at the Raincoast Conservation Foundation.
“Every time we discover a new dimension of beluga cognition or social complexity, it increases the risk of harm if we don’t protect them,” he told Global News.
Canada is home to some of the largest beluga populations, including those in the St. Lawrence River. Lawrence, where they are endangered.
Vergara said threats such as noise pollution in the ocean can disrupt whales’ communication systems, which are key to their complex social structures.
Researchers say a better understanding of animal cognition could lead to greater efforts to protect vulnerable species.
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