New research shows that beluga whales display interesting behavior in front of a mirror
New research shows that beluga whales may be able to see themselves in mirrors, a feature related to self-awareness and once thought to be a different person.
Researchers with the New York Aquarium of the Wildlife Conservation Society saw two belugas, Natasha and her daughter Maris, at the New York Aquarium where a two-way mirror was installed to better understand the cognitive abilities of the species.
According to a study published on May 20, the whales appeared to be studying their thinking closely, blowing bubbles, forming barrels and examining features such as their faces and teeth – behaviors scientists say are consistent with self-awareness.
“And it’s when the light bulb seems to go on that they find out it’s me,” says Diana Reiss, a marine mammal scientist and psychologist based in New York.
Reiss said scientists don’t fully understand what drives this ability, but it appears to be linked to traits such as having a larger brain relative to body size.
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Self-esteem has only been observed in a select group of animals, including bottlenose dolphins, Asian elephants, magpies and great apes.
Scientists say the ability is often found in highly intelligent, social and empathic species, including humans.
The findings come as no surprise to Valeria Vergara, a British Columbia-based whale biologist with the Raincoast Conservation Foundation.
“Every time we discover a new form of beluga cognition or social complexity, it raises the stakes of what we will lose if we don’t protect them,” he told Global News.
Canada is home to many beluga populations, including St. Lawrence River, where they are endangered.
Vergara said threats such as ocean noise pollution can disrupt whales’ communication systems, which are key to their complex social structures.
Researchers say a better understanding of animal cognition could spur greater efforts to protect endangered species.
