Elephants recognize their reflection in a mirror.

The African savanna elephant possesses remarkable intelligence that allows it to recognize itself in a mirror, a capacity shared by few animals. This ability reveals self-awareness and sophisticated spatial understanding, characteristics of the most cognitively advanced species.

This mirror recognition demonstrates that the elephant can identify its own body and distinguish it from other individuals. This capacity adds to its many other proofs of intelligence, such as tool use, memorization of complex routes, and expression of nuanced emotions within its social group.

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