Animals in general are not "self-aware" . . .
A mirror, even a reflecting pond, can fool the best of them. And if you insist on including humans in the equation, check out a local magic show. Smoke and mirrors fool the best of us, as well.
The questions remain, the magicians continue to entertain, and science will continue its steady march. No need to cheer them on, but refusing to follow only tends to leave one floundering in the previous century's technologies.
It's dirty, sometimes nasty, but a primary result could mean curing all disease and eradicating old age.
Unrelated? No. It's called science. What is learned makes us better people, physically and mentally.