Beluga Whales Show Mirror Self-Recognition, Expanding Evidence of Cetacean Cognition

A May 20, 2024 study in *PLOS One* reports that captive beluga Natasha passed the mark test, indicating self-recognition. Four individuals—Kathy, Marina, Natasha and her daughter Maris—were housed at the New York Aquarium. Kathy and Marina showed little interest; Natasha displayed self-recognition behaviors and used the mirror to locate a temporary visual mark.

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The whales used three concrete pools with a two-way mirror and a camera; a plexiglass panel served as control. Early sessions showed jaw claps, head jerks and repetitive head movements, which researchers labeled “contingency testing.” Later, Natasha examined her mouth, performed barrel rolls, flapped fins, swam laps with the marked side toward the mirror and pressed the mark against it, satisfying the mark test.

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The work was led by cognitive psychologist Diana Reiss of Hunter College, City University of New York, in collaboration with staff at the New York Aquarium and Wildlife Conservation Society. Masanori Kohda, a biologist at Osaka Metropolitan University who has studied mirror self-recognition in cleaner-wrasse fish, provided commentary.

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Since the 1970s, mirror self-recognition has been documented in socially complex species such as great apes, bottlenose dolphins, Asian elephants, Eurasian magpies and cleaner-wrasse fish. An estimated 136,000 mature belugas inhabit Arctic and sub-Arctic waters; the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists them as least-concern, though they face threats from fisheries, shipping, oil-gas exploration and climate change. Belugas now join this list, reinforcing the link between sociality and self-awareness.

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Reiss said the findings show belugas possess “a high level of self-awareness and a sense of self,” noting they used the mirror as a tool. She suggested the discovery could deepen insight into cetacean cognition and encourage stronger protections.

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Kohda observed that, given belugas’ ability to recognize conspecifics, the result was “quite expected,” but he affirmed study remains valuable for confirming self-recognition in a new taxon.

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The sample included only four whales, with one passing the mark test. The study did not assess retention or prevalence in wild populations, leaving uncertainty about the result’s generality.

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• “Belugas demonstrate a high level of self-awareness and a sense of self,” — Diana Reiss, cognitive psychologist, Hunter College, CUNY

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• “We were quite excited to observe how Natasha responded to seeing the temporary visual mark,” — Diana Reiss

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• “From this perspective, the present report of [mirror self-recognition] in belugas seems quite expected,” — Masanori Kohda, biologist, Osaka Metropolitan University

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• “That said, it is of course still a valuable study.” — Masanori Kohda

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The researchers hope the discovery will increase empathy for cetaceans and contribute to stronger global protections for the species.

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