Non Primate Animals Essay

According to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, the species of human and animal' differences came in degree, not in kind; if humans are able to be aware themselves, the animal also tends to exhibit the form of the same traits. Gallup and many other researchers already provided that several animals such as the great apes, dolphin, and elephants understood the different concept of self and others and therefore passed the MSR test. Even if the procedure of the MSR test is controversial whether the animals have a sense of self, the test helps to increase the understanding of animal’s level of intelligence.
Gallup (1970) suggested that being self-awareness in the animal is indicative of the self-recognition and linked with advanced cognitive

Whereas the monkeys that did not pass the MSR test, failed to show evidence of having the inner sense of self based on social strategies. Because the monkeys have no ability of considering what other individuals think due to lack of empathy (Cheney & Seyfarth, 1990). Another unique non-primate animal that shows foundations of empathy is the elephant. Plotnik and colleagues (2006) already proved that elephants are highly social animals that can recognize themselves as being separate from their environment. Their new study conducted to examine the elephants’ mental abilities on a cooperative task (Plotnik et al., 2011). The elephants were tested their understanding of cooperation with their complex empathy and sociality. The test showed that a pair of elephants coordinated with their partner by pulling the same rope simultaneously to get a reward. They even waited up to 45 seconds for a partner if the partner was delayed. Also, if the partner could not reach the rope, the elephants realized that they have to pull the rope. These social behaviors are based on helping, empathy, and compassion that requires flexibility in the behavior (Plotnik et al.,