For the first time, researchers have systematically documented a wild animal using a plant medicinally to treat injuries. Evolutionary biologists from the Max Planck Institute for Behavioral Biology in Konstanz report in the journal ‘Scientific Reports’ that a Sumatran orangutan actively treated a wound on his face with a medicinal plant.
A few days after sustaining an injury during a fight with a fellow man, the male “Rakus” tore leaves from a vine, chewed them and repeatedly applied the sap to the wound on his face for several minutes. “As a final step, he completely covered the wound with the chewed leaves,” says first author Isabelle Laumer.
Liana is used by people to treat malaria
She observed the behavior at the Suaq Balimbing research site, a protected rainforest area in Sumatra that is home to about 150 critically endangered Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii). The vine used for healing (Fibraurea tinctoria) is known for its analgesic and antipyretic effects and is used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases such as malaria.
The authors also report that the orangutan did not become infected in subsequent days. The wound closed within five days and healed completely within a month. “Interestingly, ‘Rakus’ also rested more than usual when he was injured. Sleep has a positive effect on wound healing, because growth hormone release, protein synthesis and cell division increase during sleep,” explains Laumer.
“Process took a lot of time”
“Rakus”’s behavior therefore appeared to be intentional, as he selectively treated only the facial wound and no other parts of the body with the plant sap. “The behavior was also repeated several times, not only with the plant sap, but later also with firmer plant material, until the wound was completely covered. The whole process took a lot of time,” says Laumer.
According to the study, all that was previously known was that great apes consumed certain plants to treat parasitic infections and rubbed plant material on their skin to treat muscle pain. Recently, a group of chimpanzees were observed in Gabon applying insects to wounds.
Source: Krone
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