A wild orangutan used a medicinal plant to treat a wound, scientists say

WASHINGTON (AP) — An orangutan appeared to deal with a wound with medication from a tropical plant— the newest instance of how some animals try to assuage their very own ills with treatments discovered within the wild, scientists reported Thursday.

Scientists noticed Rakus pluck and chew up leaves of a medicinal plant utilized by folks all through Southeast Asia to deal with ache and irritation. The grownup male orangutan then used his fingers to use the plant juices to an harm on the appropriate cheek. Afterward, he pressed the chewed plant to cowl the open wound like a makeshift bandage, in response to a new examine in Scientific Reviews.

Earlier analysis has documented a number of species of nice apes foraging for medicines in forests to heal themselves, however scientists hadn’t but seen an animal deal with itself on this method.

“That is the primary time that now we have noticed a wild animal making use of a fairly potent medicinal plant on to a wound,” stated co-author Isabelle Laumer, a biologist on the Max Planck Institute of Animal Conduct in Konstanz, Germany.

The orangutan’s intriguing conduct was recorded in 2022 by Ulil Azhari, a co-author and area researcher on the Suaq Undertaking in Medan, Indonesia. Images present the animal’s wound closed inside a month with none issues.

Scientists have been observing orangutans in Indonesia’s Gunung Leuser Nationwide Park since 1994, however they hadn’t beforehand seen this conduct.

“It’s a single statement,” stated Emory College biologist Jacobus de Roode, who was not concerned within the examine. “However usually we find out about new behaviors by beginning with a single statement.”

“Very probably it’s self-medication,” stated de Roode, including that the orangutan utilized the plant solely to the wound and no different physique half.

It’s attainable Rakus discovered the approach from different orangutans dwelling outdoors the park and away from scientists’ each day scrutiny, stated co-author Caroline Schuppli at Max Planck.

Rakus was born and lived as a juvenile outdoors the examine space. Researchers imagine the orangutan obtained damage in a struggle with one other animal. It’s not recognized whether or not Rakus earlier handled different accidents.

Scientists have beforehand recorded different primates utilizing vegetation to deal with themselves.

Bornean orangutans rubbed themselves with juices from a medicinal plant, presumably to cut back physique pains or ward off parasites.

Chimpanzees in a number of areas have been noticed chewing on the shoots of bitter-tasting vegetation to assuage their stomachs. Gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos swallow sure tough leaves complete to do away with abdomen parasites.

“If this conduct exists in a few of our closest dwelling family members, what may that inform us about how medication first advanced?” stated Tara Stoinski, president and chief scientific officer of the nonprofit Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, who had no position within the examine.

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