@natgeo
National GeographicA new study reveals that beluga whales can recognize themselves in mirrors, using the tools to peer at themselves, watch themselves do barrel rolls, and examine their own mouths. The whales join a small but growing group of animals, including great apes, magpies, and cleaner wrasse fish, who have an ability once thought to be uniquely human. In this video, Natasha and her daughter Maris blow bubbles and perform barrel rolls, demonstrating mirror self-recognition with a mirror placed in their shared pool. Find out what this means for beluga self-awareness and see more videos at the 🔗 in bio.
On the profile · May 23, 2026