They’re smarter than we think

Apparently humans aren’t the only primates with a first aid kit. Although there have been similar reports of animals using drugs in the wild recently, the study’s authors say this appears to be the first report of an animal deliberately applying plants to its wounds as a type of topical salve.

This sighting was recorded by primate researcher Isabelle Laumer and her colleagues. Since 1994, the team has been studying wild Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) living at the Suak Balimbing Research Center in Indonesia, a protected rainforest that is home to approximately 150 individuals.

They encountered Rakus during a day tour in late June 2022. He had a big, nasty scar on the right side of his face.that is, in the thick cheek pad that stands out in some men. The wound was probably caused by a fight with another man.

Three days after the wound appeared, Rakus did something researchers had never seen before. He swallowed the herb, chewed it and spat it out, then applied the herbal mixture to his wound.

The impression from all the evidence the team has collected is that: Rakus knew exactly what he was doing.

Pictures of orangutan Rakus before, during and after a successful treatment with the plant / Photo: Laumer et al/Scientific Reports

Rakus applied the herb only on the wound and no other part of the body. He did this repeatedly and closed the entire wound. The process took about seven minutes and was repeated over several days.

The plant Rakus uses is called Fibraurea tinctoria, also known as Akar Kooning. This plant has long been used by people in the region as a traditional medicine to treat various ailments, and research has revealed that it contains components that have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and other beneficial medicinal properties.

But perhaps the most striking evidence is that the wound Rakusa recovered really quickly after treatment with the herb. Within five days the wound closed and by the end of August it was barely noticeable.

important questions

Scientists don’t know exactly how Rakus learned to heal himself. Orangutans rarely eat this plant. In decades of observations, the team had never seen an injured orangutan do something like this.

It is also worth noting that injuries in this area do not occur very often; This makes it even more difficult to understand how and when Rakus got there. Male orangutans tend to wander far from home, and like all adults, Rakus is not native to Suak. So it is possible that he learned this behavior by watching others where he grew up. But it’s also possible that Rakus is just a cunning and somewhat lucky orangutan.

Individuals may accidentally touch their wounds while feeding this plant and therefore unintentionally infect their wounds with the sap of the plant. Since Fibraurea tinctoria has a strong analgesic effect, animals can experience immediate pain relief, causing them to repeat this behavior several times.
– says Isabel Laumer.

Laumer’s team will continue to monitor Suak’s orangutans closely to see if other members of the group can repeat the trick.