Wild orangutan seen healing his wound with a plant

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68942123

The scientists concluded that Rakus knew he was applying medicine because orangutans very rarely eat this particular plant and because of the length of the treatment.

"He repeatedly applied the paste, and he later also applied more solid plant matter. The entire process lasted really a considerable amount of time - that's why we think that he intentionally applied it," explains Dr Laumer.

The researchers also saw Rakus resting for much longer than usual - more than half of the day - suggesting he was trying to recuperate after the injury.

Scientists were already aware that great apes used medicine to try to heal themselves.

In the 1960s biologist Jane Goodall saw whole leaves in the faeces of chimpanzees, and others documented seeing great apes swallowing leaves with medicinal properties.

But they had never seen a wild animal applying a plant to a wound.

Dr Laumer says it is possible that it was the first time Rakus had done this type of treatment.

"It could be that he accidentally touched his wound with his finger that had the plant on it. And then because the plant has quite potent pain relieving substances he might have felt immediate pain relief, which made him apply it again and again," she says.

Or he could have learned the method from watching other orangutans in his group.

The researchers will now be closely watching other orangutans to see if they can spot the same medical skills that Rakus showed.

"I think in the next few years we will discover even more behaviours and more abilities that are very human-like," she suggests.

The research is published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports.

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  "title": "Wounded orangutan seen using plant as medicine",
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  "content": "<div><p>The scientists concluded that Rakus knew he was applying medicine because orangutans very rarely eat this particular plant and because of the length of the treatment.</p><p>\"He repeatedly applied the paste, and he later also applied more solid plant matter. The entire process lasted really a considerable amount of time - that's why we think that he intentionally applied it,\" explains Dr Laumer.  </p><p>The researchers also saw Rakus resting for much longer than usual - more than half of the day - suggesting he was trying to recuperate after the injury.</p><p>Scientists were already aware that great apes used medicine to try to heal themselves. </p><p>In the 1960s biologist Jane Goodall saw whole leaves in the faeces of chimpanzees, and others documented seeing great apes swallowing leaves with medicinal properties.</p><p>But they had never seen a wild animal applying a plant to a wound.</p><p>Dr Laumer says it is possible that it was the first time Rakus had done this type of treatment. </p><p>\"It could be that he accidentally touched his wound with his finger that had the plant on it.  And then because the plant has quite potent pain relieving substances he might have felt immediate pain relief, which made him apply it again and again,\" she says. </p><p>Or he could have learned the method from watching other orangutans in his group.</p><p>The researchers will now be closely watching other orangutans to see if they can spot the same medical skills that Rakus showed.</p><p>\"I think in the next few years we will discover even more behaviours and more abilities that are very human-like,\" she suggests. </p><p>The research is published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports.</p></div>",
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