In A First, An Orangutan Spotted Treating Its Wound With Medicinal Plant

Only humans are known to use medications and balms to cure wounds. But, scientists in Indonesia saw an orangutan purposefully treat a facial wound using a medical plant. CNN claims that this is the first time that a conduct like this has been observed in an animal other than humans. The climbing plant Akar Kuning’s leaves were initially consumed by the orangutan named Rakus, who then repeatedly applied the liquid to his facial wound.

Rakus, an orangutan, chewed the leaves of a climbing plant called Akar Kuning before repeatedly applying the juice to a gash on its face. Orangutans rarely eat this plant in this peat swamp habitat, which is home to approximately 150 severely endangered Sumatran orangutans.

Rakus then covered the incision with chewed-up leaves, which CNN reported are used in traditional medicine to treat conditions like malaria, diabetes, and diarrhoea. The wound did not exhibit signs of infection and healed in five days, according to the researchers. The journal Scientific Reports has released a study that details this.

According to study lead author Isabelle Laumer, they are “very excited” by the observations made in June 2022 in Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia’s Suaq Balimbing research area. “This possibly innovative behavior presents the first report of active wound management with a biological active plant in a great ape species,” she told CNN.

The scientists concluded that the 30-year-old male animal was healing its wound since he refrained from smearing any other area of his body, as per the Science Alert report. Meanwhile, chemical analysis of the plant’s composition indicated antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antioxidant capabilities, all of which aid in wound healing.

The orangutan is believed to have suffered the wound during a fight with another male. Rakus also rested for half of the day during his recovery period, which astonished the research crew.

As per reports, Rakus is a flanged male with prominent cheek pads on both sides of the face, secondary male sexual traits. He is thought to have been born in 1989. Orangutans are among the world’s great apes, the closest surviving cousins of humans, along with chimps, bonobos, and gorillas. Orangutans are the least closely related to humans, however, they share over 97 percent of our DNA.