Self-medication in animals: Orangutan Uses Plant Leaves to Treat Wound

In a recent revelation that captivated the world, Sumatran orangutan exhibited a fascinating behavior: treating its wound with plant leaves.

This discovery has ignited a discussions among analysts, highlighting the intriguing field of zoopharmacognosy. Zoopharmacognosy, the study of animals self-medicating, has gained newfound attention as scientists delve deeper into the complexities of animal behavior.

With this revelation, we’re compelled to reconsider the depth of animal intelligence and their interactions with their environment, opening new avenues for research and understanding in the realm of ethology.

Sumatran Orangutan is Applying Leaves to Fresh Wounds

In a recent discovery [1], a Sumatran orangutan has been observed using a plant leaf as a bandage to cover a wound.

While self-medication behaviors in animals have been documented earlier, this specific instance of wound treatment with healing plants is unprecedented. Biologists from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Germany, and Universitas Nasional, Indonesia, meticulously observed a male Sumatran orangutan named Rakus applying sap from a climbing plant with anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties onto a facial wound. Rakus not only consumed the plant but also fashioned a protective covering for the wound using its leaves.