Family resemblance? Adorable monkeys check their reflections just like humans after being given mirrors in Thai zoo

  • The group of monkeys' fascinating reaction happened in Lopburi, Thailand 
  • Watching their reflections monkeys do not spot dominant monkey creeping up    
  • Tourists were not able to retrieve the mirror after the dominant monkey took it

This is the surreal moment monkeys check themselves out their reflections after a tourist hands them a mirror.

The fascinating reaction happened when a tourist held up a mirror to a group of mother monkeys with their babies in Lopburi, Thailand.  

While watching themselves and poking at their reflections the monkeys do not spot the dominant monkey creeping behind them - and scarper when they see him.

A baby glimpses a look in the mirror while hiding under its mother, a crowd forms around the mirror

A baby glimpses a look in the mirror while hiding under its mother, a crowd forms around the mirror

Wanting a closer look at himself the dominant monkey grabs the mirror from the camera person.

The tourist said they were not able to retrieve the mirror after the monkey took it during the interaction on July 14. 

The tourist said:  'I also almost lost my reading glasses! Two different tourists that were here on that day lost their glasses to these monkeys.'

One mother gets in on the act looking at herself while her baby grabs the corner of the mirror

One mother gets in on the act looking at herself while her baby grabs the corner of the mirror 

Let me see that! The dominant monkey struts over before taking the mirror for himself

Let me see that! The dominant monkey struts over before taking the mirror for himself

Monkeys are one of the few animals to pass the mirror test - recognising themselves in their reflection - along with humans, dolphins, magpies and elephants.

The ability to recognise oneself in a mirror is considered a mark of intelligence, the technique has been used to analyse animals' behaviour since it was developed by psychologist Gordon Gallup Jr. in the 1970s.

The dominant monkey seems to be giving himself a stern look as he turns away from the tourist

The dominant monkey seems to be giving himself a stern look as he turns away from the tourist

One monkey takes the mirror to a private nook in the rock to stare into his own eyes

One monkey takes the mirror to a private nook in the rock to stare into his own eyes

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