The case of an orangutan in Sumatra, Indonesia, surprised scientists after noticing that the animal, which had a wound on its face, he was healing himself with a medicinal plant. This behavior would be further proof of evolution and kinship with humans.
According to BBC News, This would be the first time in history that a creature of nature is recorded healing a wound with a plant. of this type.
The experts in question were observing Rakus, an orangutan from Gunung Leuser National Parkin Indonesia, who was injured during a fight with two other rival orangutans.
After ending up with an open injury on one cheek, Scientists saw Rakus chewing on the stem and leaves of a plant called Akar Kuningwhich has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
In fact, in local communities in Indonesia, This plant is often used to treat malaria and diabetes. Experts ruled out that it was a coincidence, since orangutans rarely consume this plant.
According to the records, Rakus applied the liquid from the waist to his cheek for 7 minutes, then spread the chewed leaves on the area until it was completely covered. and finally continued eating the plant.
In addition, Investigators found no signs of infection in Rakus’ wound and this was cured after a month.
“He applied the paste repeatedly and then also applied more solid plant matter. The entire process actually took a considerable amount of time; That’s why we think he applied it intentionally.“explained biologist Dr. Isabella Laumer, from the Max Planck Institute in Germany and lead author of the research, which was published in Nature.
How did the orangutan know that Akar Kuning was a medicinal plant?
Biologists caught Rakus doing this procedure in 2022, but it was not until now that they released their findings. In addition to applying the plant, they noticed that the orangutan was resting more than usualsuggesting that he was trying to recover from the injury.
In science it was already commented that orangutans could be using medicinal plants, since in documentation from decades ago, biologists had found leaves of this type in excrement or had seen some primates eating thembut never a record like Rakus’s.
“It could be that he accidentally touched his wound with the finger that had the plant. And then, because the plant has quite potent analgesic substances, she might have felt immediate pain relief.which made him apply it over and over again,” Laumer added.
Now, Researchers plan to closely observe other orangutans to see if they have similar behaviors. “I think that in the coming years we will discover even more behaviors and more abilities that are very similar to humans,” the doctor concluded.
