Elephants are self-aware. At least, they are, based on the findings of research conducted many years ago at Bronx Zoo with Asian elephants. According to the study, reported in LiveScience[i],just the researchers using specially designed mirrors proved that elephants can indeed recognize their own reflections, something until then it was believed that only humans, apes and to some extent dolphins could do. One of the results that surprised the researchers was just how quickly the elephants came to terms with their own image and began interacting with the mirror. They did not appear to mistake their reflections for strangers and try to greet them, as the researchers had suspected they might do. It is believed that this self-awareness contributes to the social complexity seen in elephant herds and could be linked to the empathy and concern for others in the group that they have been known to display. Even now, the researchers believe we know but a fraction about their true capacity for self-awareness.