Interest of the Day The Mirror Test
The mirror test, sometimes called the mark
test or the mirror self-recognition test (MSR), is an attempt to determine whether a non-human animal
possesses the ability of self-recognition.
In the classic MSR test, an
animal is doped to sleep and then marked (e.g. painted, or a sticker attached)
on an area of the body the animal cannot normally see.
When the animal recovers
from the sleep, they are given access to a mirror. If the animal then touches
or investigates the mark, it is taken as an indication that the animal
perceives the reflected image as itself, rather than of another animal.
Very few species have passed the MSR test.
As of 2016, only great apes, a single Asiatic elephant, dolphins, orcas, and
the Eurasian magpie have passed the MSR test. A wide range of species have been
reported to fail the test including several monkey species, giant pandas, sea
lions, and dogs.
=> Do you want a pet animal that is
nearly as intelligent as a five-year old child?