Self-awareness is defined as the conscious knowledge of one’s character and feelings. Recent studies suggest that not only humans have the trait of self-awareness; some animals could have this unique trait as well. Although animals might ponder on life, the future, or death, they may still have some level of consciousness.
I believe that there is a degree of self-awareness. Higher animals are able to understand their body, they know how to avoid pain, they know their territory, and they know what is theirs. Animals such as Orangutans, Chimpanzees, Gorillas, and Bottlenose Dolphins are known to have little sense of awareness. An animal’s awareness of its own body, territory, and property ultimately equates to a sense of self.