Why Do Chimps Freak Out When Seeing Their Reflection?

Quite simply it's because they think it is another Chimp, a possible threat. However, most of the great apes, including humans, quickly learn that the reflection is a mirror image of themselves. Several experiments have shown this. For instance, researchers took food grade paint and rubbed a dot onto the forehead of a Chimp (who had been exposed to a mirror in the past). When he saw his reflection, he immediately touched the dot and inspected his finger. In another experiment, the mirror was replaced with a video recorder and a TV. The subject realized that the image on the TV was their own and that the dot was out of the ordinary.