Wild baboons did not show signs of visual self-recognition in a research study conducted by anthropologists.
In a paper published today in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, researchers found that although the baboons reacted to a laser dot projected on their arms, legs, and hands, they did not respond when they saw the dot on their faces and ears through a mirror.
This was the first instance of a controlled laser marking test being carried out on these primates in their natural habitat, reinforcing findings from other research that suggest monkeys generally do not recognize their own reflections.
The study focused on 120 Chacma baboons at Tsaobis Nature Park in Namibia from May to October 2021, aiming to gain insights into self-awareness in wild non-human primates, which have mostly been studied in captivity.
Dr. Alecia Carter from UCL Anthropology, one of the authors of the study, explained, “We define self-awareness as ‘the ability to focus attention on oneself,’ and we assess this ability by examining an individual’s capability to recognize an image of themselves.”
Dr. Carter added, “The Chacma baboons we watched at Tsaobis Nature Park clearly enjoyed the mirrors like a new toy, but throughout the research, they did not seem to grasp that the reflection in the mirror represented their own bodies or that the laser mark shown on their reflection was actually on them.”
Dr. Carter further noted, “For 50 years, anthropologists have been trying to measure self-awareness in animals, yet previous studies often lacked controlled environments and involved a limited number of captive animals. Our study is the first controlled laser marking test done in a wild environment, and we hope it will serve as a model for future research on visual self-recognition.”
In Namibia, the researchers initially allowed the baboons to spend time with mirrors to help them understand this reflective surface, which is quite rare in their dry natural environment, especially compared to primates raised in captivity who may have had more opportunities to see their own reflections.
As recorded in the study footage, a red or green laser pointer was first directed at easily visible areas of the baboon’s body, such as their hands or feet, to see if the baboon would explore the mark on their own body. The baboons showed interest, engaging by touching and scratching at the visible mark.
Next, the laser was pointed at parts of their bodies that they could not see without aid, like their ears or cheeks. When positioned before a mirror, the baboons did not respond to the laser mark in the same way, indicating a lack of recognition that the baboon in the mirror was themselves.
Overall, the baboons’ interest in the lasers was found to decline with age and was more pronounced in males than in females. They also responded more to the green laser than the red one. Researchers conducted a total of 361 laser tests involving 120 baboons.
Corresponding author Esa A. Ahmad stated, “Our research provides an excellent foundation for further investigations into the self-awareness of non-human primates in their natural environments.”
“The fact that the baboons did not interact with the marks when viewed indirectly confirms that monkeys do not naturally recognize themselves in mirrors. However, since they became quickly accustomed to their reflections, it suggests they do not view their mirrored image as unfamiliar.”
The study received ethical approval from the Namibian National Commission on Research Science and Technology and the Zoological Society of London Ethics Committee.
