To record the reactions of wild animals in front of a mirror 120x180 cm, Xavier and Michel have installed this intruder in a forest a few miles south from the equator line, near Nyonié in Gabon.
This video was made with one of 29 Stealth Cam cameras trap.
Leopards
Chimpanzees
They don't recognize themselves immediately. They think 'strangers' are in their territory, so their first reaction is a mix of fear and anger. After a while, if they understand it's their own image (which is unsure and may be hard to figure out regarding wild individuals) they begin to be more curious and start to use the mirror to explore their own bodies.
When they first discovered the mirror their reaction was fear and aggressivity. Here, second encounter. Some individuals have learnt to recognize themselves, understanding synchronism with their own movements, seeing another chimp behind and turning round to check. Two of them seem really interested. The camera is protected by a steel case, hence the noise of the rain drops once in a while.
Elephants
from [youtube]
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