Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A November 2006 PMID 17075063

Self-recognition in an Asian elephant.

Joshua M Plotnik, Frans B M de Waal, Diana Reiss

Mentions

167
Peak: 6 in May 2021
across 7 sources since Aug 2020

Extended reach

3,795,455
potential audience

Total likes

102,927

Video views

3,717,093

Mentions per month

Aug 2020 – Nov 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News86 articles
  • Blogs42 articles
  • X / Twitter28 posts
  • Bluesky3 posts
  • YouTube3 videos
  • Facebook3 posts
  • Reddit2 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Discussions frequently highlight the significance of the study in demonstrating elephant self-awareness, with references to the mirror test and its stages, using words like 'proof' and 'indications' to emphasize importance. The tone varies from scientific curiosity to admiration, reflecting both an interest in methodology and the broader implications for animal intelligence, which emphasizes a recognition of the study's potential impact in rethinking animal cognition and emotional capacity.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions agree that the research indicates elephants possess self-awareness, with some referencing the classic mirror self-recognition test and its significance, reflecting a general consensus on the findings.

InterestHigh interest

Posts show high curiosity and enthusiasm, with many mentioning the cognitive abilities of elephants, the methodology (like the mirror test), and the broader implications for animal intelligence.

EngagementHigh engagement

Several comments delve into methodological details, such as the use of the mark test, and relate the findings to broader topics like empathy and social behavior, demonstrating deep involvement.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions suggest the research has meaningful implications for understanding animal cognition and challenging traditional views, though some posts focus on general interest rather than transformative influence.

Abstract in brief

  • The study investigates self-recognition in three Asian elephants by exposing them to a mirror and observing their behaviors, including marking tests to see if they recognize themselves.
  • The elephants displayed behaviors that match the four typical stages of mirror self-recognition seen in humans, apes, and dolphins, such as social responses, physical inspection, mirror testing, and self-awareness.
  • The findings suggest that complex self-awareness has evolved independently in different highly social species like elephants, dolphins, and primates, likely as a result of their social and cooperative lifestyles.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Tangui Le Dantec
@TanguiLeDantec · X

@hugoclement Les éléphants sont les animaux terrestres avec le plus volumineux de tous les cerveaux, cortex y compris. Ils sont capables d'empathie, de coopération, de raisonnement abstrait, et de se reconnaître dans un miroir, tout comme nous. Imaginez cette torture! https://t.co/er0juVqXBl

May 1, 2023 · 39 likes · 4 shares · 10,330 followers View post →
sunny liu
@sunnyliusunny39 · X

This is one of my “big 3”. This study proved that elephants have high cognitive skills that they can recognize themselves in the morro Self-recognition in an Asian elephant | PNAS https://t.co/mEL2BZCiIU

May 6, 2021 · 8 likes · 5 shares · 96 followers View post →
Ieda Marcondes
@iedamarcondes.com · Bluesky

Achei que vocês gostariam de ver este elefantinho no útero. É deste vídeo aqui: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvOr1-P6XR8

Jul 22, 2023 · 6 likes View post →
Voices for Asian Elephants (VFAE)
@vfaes_org · X

@hockey72518 @GlobalElephants If you’re interested in the source of this fact, here’s a study on mirror self-recognition in Asian elephants published in 2006, which featured @NonhumanRights’ client Happy, who is currently living without a companion at the Bronx Zoo (#FreeHappy). https://t.co/gTinICLec8

Aug 7, 2020 · 4 likes · 4,412 followers View post →
Chris Jannette
@RealChrisJNet · X

@BasedSierra117 @still_boneless https://t.co/0yPRxVGSLG You’re fired

Jan 10, 2025 · 4 likes · 399 followers View post →
Lindsay Triplett
@triplettlr · X

@ntrlycompetent This paper showing that elephants recognize themselves in a mirror is a basic intro to designing a controlled and replicated study. No learning of fancy techniques or jargon required. https://t.co/bRo5yqlUwl

May 24, 2024 · 3 likes · 2,123 followers View post →

All mentions

Exploring the Sensitivity of Elephant Trunk Whiskers

Elephants possess highly sensitive trunk whiskers, particularly at the tip, aiding their manipulative abilities. This video delves into the anatomy and functionality of these specialized structures, highlighting…

Ze Frank · Jul 21, 2023 3,717,018 views
杉山はるな
@SShanharuna · X

RT @Kyukimasa: 動物の鏡自己認識(マークテスト)、イルカは腹 https://t.co/FEwKgXCKRE カササギはアゴhttps://t.co/eTQDt1w8u3 https://t.co/jvopWXIRJR ゾウは額 (顔にいたずら描きされると気になっ…

Feb 19, 2025 · 58 shares · 149 followers View post →
猪熊虎蔵
@inokumatorazou · X

RT @Kyukimasa: 動物の鏡自己認識(マークテスト)、イルカは腹 https://t.co/FEwKgXCKRE カササギはアゴhttps://t.co/eTQDt1w8u3 https://t.co/jvopWXIRJR ゾウは額 (顔にいたずら描きされると気になっ…

Feb 6, 2025 · 58 shares · 6,096 followers View post →
Duneslaya
@DuneSlaya · X

@Vuyo__ @Zeus_Kyurem @Vhoyde I did not say that. I said they had indications of self-awareness. And you'll also remember that I provided a source for that claim. ("Self-recognition in an Asian elephant" 2006)

Jan 14, 2025 · 210 followers View post →
Duneslaya
@DuneSlaya · X

@Vuyo__ @Zeus_Kyurem @Vhoyde ...switching" 2001). As well as mirror self-recognition and indications of self-awareness and cognition ("Self-recognition in an Asian elephant" 2006). None of that is possible to be inborn pattern of behaviour, because we know that age is an important factor for each of those.

Jan 14, 2025 · 210 followers View post →
Chris Jannette
@RealChrisJNet · X

@BasedSierra117 @still_boneless https://t.co/0yPRxVGSLG You’re fired

Jan 10, 2025 · 4 likes · 399 followers View post →
Serhat Erdem
@SerhatErde57978 · X

@fikretcetinorg Bu fillerle ilgili https://t.co/znrksecaVf Şempanzeler göremedikleri yerlere bakar: ağız içi, dil, diş, burun içi, gözün alt kısmı. Dişiler ayrıca kalçalarına da bakar. Amatör bir kayıt ama yapılmış akademik çalışmalar da var. https://t.co/QGe0Zfvi8b Yunus çalışmaları da var.

Jul 15, 2024 · 2 likes View post →
Lindsay Triplett
@triplettlr · X

@ntrlycompetent This paper showing that elephants recognize themselves in a mirror is a basic intro to designing a controlled and replicated study. No learning of fancy techniques or jargon required. https://t.co/bRo5yqlUwl

May 24, 2024 · 3 likes · 2,123 followers View post →
No Rest For the Space Rangers
@nr_space · X

In the Mirror Self-Recognition (MSR) test, animals typically pass through four stages: (i) social responses directed at the mirror, (ii) physical mirror inspection, (iii) repetitive mirror-inspection & finally (iv) self-recognition [Read more: https://t.co/jwZRaeLUWz]

Oct 26, 2023 · 2 likes · 25 followers View post →
Agrivane
@agrivane.bsky.social · Bluesky

A great edutainment video about Elephants from ZeFrank. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvOr1-P6XR8)

Jul 24, 2023 · 3 likes View post →
Ieda Marcondes
@iedamarcondes.com · Bluesky

Achei que vocês gostariam de ver este elefantinho no útero. É deste vídeo aqui: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvOr1-P6XR8

Jul 22, 2023 · 6 likes View post →
ivacheung.com
@ivacheung.com · Bluesky

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvOr1-P6XR8

Jul 21, 2023 View post →
GUDULE82
@gudule82 · X

RT @TanguiLeDantec: @hugoclement Les éléphants sont les animaux terrestres avec le plus volumineux de tous les cerveaux, cortex y compris.…

May 2, 2023 · 4 shares · 67 followers View post →
moeremans martine
@tinam96120471 · X

RT @TanguiLeDantec: @hugoclement Les éléphants sont les animaux terrestres avec le plus volumineux de tous les cerveaux, cortex y compris.…

May 2, 2023 · 4 shares · 114 followers View post →
claire fourcade
@clairefourcade4 · X

RT @TanguiLeDantec: @hugoclement Les éléphants sont les animaux terrestres avec le plus volumineux de tous les cerveaux, cortex y compris.…

May 1, 2023 · 4 shares · 15 followers View post →
Catsy18
@BrenierLaura · X

RT @TanguiLeDantec: @hugoclement Les éléphants sont les animaux terrestres avec le plus volumineux de tous les cerveaux, cortex y compris.…

May 1, 2023 · 4 shares · 5,318 followers View post →
Tangui Le Dantec
@TanguiLeDantec · X

@hugoclement Les éléphants sont les animaux terrestres avec le plus volumineux de tous les cerveaux, cortex y compris. Ils sont capables d'empathie, de coopération, de raisonnement abstrait, et de se reconnaître dans un miroir, tout comme nous. Imaginez cette torture! https://t.co/er0juVqXBl

May 1, 2023 · 39 likes · 4 shares · 10,330 followers View post →
Yoshitugu Tuduki/都築良継
@TSMoon56 · X

RT @Kyukimasa: 動物の鏡自己認識(マークテスト)、イルカは腹 https://t.co/FEwKgXCKRE カササギはアゴhttps://t.co/eTQDt1w8u3 https://t.co/jvopWXIRJR ゾウは額 (顔にいたずら描きされると気になっ…

Feb 6, 2023 · 58 shares · 2,938 followers View post →
Kai Fujimoto
@KaiFujimoto18 · X

One of my Big 3 research studies focuses on self recognition in elephants, which could be related to their empathy and other complex social behavior. Read more here. #39canimals https://t.co/TdSmNZpqtU https://t.co/OqoIoJOH8n

Jul 28, 2022 · 1 like · 21 followers View post →
Ji Wang
@JiWang34870818 · X

Self-recognition in an Asian elephant | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences https://t.co/07hi0CKd3a #39canimals This research article is about conducting the "mark test" in front of the mirror. It suggests that elephants tend to have "mirror self-recognition" (MSR).

Jul 27, 2022 · 1 like · 27 followers View post →
Ji Wang
@JiWang34870818 · X

Elephants Have a Concept of Self, Study Suggests https://t.co/M0tjqd0rwk #39canimals The mirror test and elephants. This link is related to the research article "Self-recognition in an Asian elephant."

Jul 21, 2022 · 1 like · 27 followers View post →
Lydia Hopper
@LydiaMHopper · X

@SCanington @bthewren @kristinlkrueger Yes, the mark test is the classic & should include a sham to control for animals feeling the mark application. (But any response that shows contingency understanding works, eg picking their teeth.) It’s been used in many species; see this by @CCCAnimals https://t.co/YkQOiCU193 https://t.co/Rn7PZ4nI51

Jun 12, 2022 · 4,633 followers View post →
えいるーす
@LLK11300311 · X

RT @Kyukimasa: 動物の鏡自己認識(マークテスト)、イルカは腹 https://t.co/FEwKgXCKRE カササギはアゴhttps://t.co/eTQDt1w8u3 https://t.co/jvopWXIRJR ゾウは額 (顔にいたずら描きされると気になっ…

May 12, 2022 · 58 shares · 338 followers View post →
Aleksa Gordić (水平问题)
@gordic_aleksa · X

@Himanshu_nitrr https://t.co/xba79LQZm1

Mar 6, 2022 · 27,481 followers View post →
Noah Johnson
@NoahJ39 · X

My first BIG 3 study is about self-recognition in an Asian elephant. Elephants are one of the few animals that have passed the MSR test. #39canimals https://t.co/xRcvaLcP9z

Feb 12, 2022 · 62 followers View post →
Afterstorm
@Afterstorm13 · X

RT @sunnyliusunny39: This is one of my “big 3”. This study proved that elephants have high cognitive skills that they can recognize themsel…

May 6, 2021 · 5 shares · 1,394 followers View post →
Lightspeed
@LightspeedSteps · X

RT @sunnyliusunny39: This is one of my “big 3”. This study proved that elephants have high cognitive skills that they can recognize themsel…

May 6, 2021 · 5 shares · 1,388 followers View post →
meowss
@meowwsss · X

RT @sunnyliusunny39: This is one of my “big 3”. This study proved that elephants have high cognitive skills that they can recognize themsel…

May 6, 2021 · 5 shares · 2,509 followers View post →
rsarhh
@rsarhhh · X

RT @sunnyliusunny39: This is one of my “big 3”. This study proved that elephants have high cognitive skills that they can recognize themsel…

May 6, 2021 · 5 shares · 2,509 followers View post →
Dragofix
@Dragofix · X

RT @sunnyliusunny39: This is one of my “big 3”. This study proved that elephants have high cognitive skills that they can recognize themsel…

May 6, 2021 · 5 shares · 4,907 followers View post →
sunny liu
@sunnyliusunny39 · X

This is one of my “big 3”. This study proved that elephants have high cognitive skills that they can recognize themselves in the morro Self-recognition in an Asian elephant | PNAS https://t.co/mEL2BZCiIU

May 6, 2021 · 8 likes · 5 shares · 96 followers View post →
Voices for Asian Elephants (VFAE)
@vfaes_org · X

@hockey72518 @GlobalElephants If you’re interested in the source of this fact, here’s a study on mirror self-recognition in Asian elephants published in 2006, which featured @NonhumanRights’ client Happy, who is currently living without a companion at the Bronx Zoo (#FreeHappy). https://t.co/gTinICLec8

Aug 7, 2020 · 4 likes · 4,412 followers View post →