Scientists wanted to put penguins to the test, facing mirrors, to test their self-awareness.
What if wild penguins were self-aware? To answer this question, we need mirrors. And penguins. At least, that was the plan of three scientists, detailed in a study broadcast online on December 28, 2022 (and which is not yet published in a journal).
This trio of scientists studied the behavior of Adélie penguins in Antarctica — on Svenner Island. In the biological realm, the question of consciousness relates to self-knowledge: the perception of one’s own body, as an individuality, in the environment. A kind of understanding of identity.
To put animals to the test in this matter, a mirror is often used. It is then a question of determining if the individual understands that it is about him, in the reflection which he faces. For example, if he comes to touch a small mark present on him and which is not visible other than in this reflection. Some mammals, but also birds, can pass this test.
Penguins may have self-awareness
Several experiments were set up by the authors:
- Mirrors installed on the ground, not far from the group of penguins, to observe the reaction of the penguins falling on them by chance.
- A cardboard hallway aimed at leading penguins to mirrors at the end.
- Same principle of the corridor, but adding colored stickers on the mirrors to hide the head.
- Always the same principle, but placing on the penguins entering the corridor a small colored chasuble, similar to a bib, on them.
Results :
- First experience: no reaction from the penguins; which is a test pass, because some animals act as if it were an individual other than themselves.
- Second experiment: the penguins seemed to examine themselves.
- Third experiment: the penguins looked like they were actively trying to remove the sticker hiding their face and “jiggled” a lot.
- Fourth experiment: they did not react when they saw themselves with a bib.
How do the authors interpret it? In the immediate term, the results are “ambiguous”. They believe, however, that the overall behavior of the penguins during the experiments solidifies the idea that they possess subjective self-awareness. This would be consistent, according to the authors, with their social life with complex networks. However, this study does not allow us to come to a definitive conclusion.
