While chimpanzees seem to enjoy their reflection in the mirror, leopards and gorillas scratch and attack their identical images.
A French photographer, Xavier Hubert Brierre, conducted an intriguing experiment in a forest in Gabon.
Specifically, Brierre set up large mirrors at various locations in the forest and used sensors to observe the reactions of different animal species when they looked into the mirrors.
The resulting video revealed various reactions from the animals when they saw their reflections, but generally, they all appeared startled, surprised, or even some animals “declared war” on their own images in the mirror.
When seeing themselves in the mirror, chimpanzees take the opportunity to preen and admire themselves.
For example, chimpanzees seize the moment to groom and admire themselves. In contrast, leopards and gorillas scratch and attack the creature that looks just like them.
The video capturing the humorous reactions of the animals upon seeing themselves in the mirror for the first time has caused many to burst into laughter.
