Orangutans

2024 - 5 - 3

Orangutan's Healing Power: Self-Medication in the Wild

orangutan Medicinal Plants - Natural Healing - Orangutans - Wild Animals - Wildlife Conservation - orangutan

In a remarkable first, a wild orangutan named Rakus used a medicinal plant to heal his face. Discover more about this fascinating behavior!

Orangutans are known for their incredible intelligence, and a recent discovery has showcased their exceptional abilities even further. In a groundbreaking observation, a male Sumatran orangutan named Rakus was spotted treating a facial wound using a medicinal plant named Akar Kuning. Rakus chewed up the plant's leaves, creating a poultice which he applied to his wound, effectively closing it within days.

This behavior, described as the first known case of active wound treatment in a wild animal using a medicinal plant, sheds light on the orangutan's sophisticated cognitive capabilities. Scientists were amazed to witness Rakus' healing instinct and self-medication skills, highlighting the remarkable connection between orangutans and their natural environment.

The unique interaction between Rakus and the Akar Kuning plant raises intriguing questions about the evolutionary intelligence of orangutans and the depth of their understanding of medicinal properties in the wild. This phenomenon not only showcases the orangutans' adaptability and resourcefulness but also emphasizes the importance of preserving their habitats for future studies and conservation efforts.

In conclusion, Rakus' remarkable ability to self-medicate with a medicinal plant demonstrates the extraordinary nature of orangutans and their inherent healing knowledge in the wild. This fascinating behavior opens new avenues for research on animal cognition and adds to the growing body of evidence highlighting the intelligence and resilience of these incredible primates.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "NPR"

Orangutan in the wild applied medicinal plant to heal its own injury ... (NPR)

It is "the first known case of active wound treatment in a wild animal with a medical plant," biologist Isabelle Laumer told NPR. She says the orangutan, ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Smithsonian"

In a First, an Orangutan Healed His Own Wound Using a Known ... (Smithsonian)

The primate named Rakus chewed up yellow root and applied it to an open facial wound, closing the sore within days.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "WDJT"

Orangutan observed treating wound using medicinal plant in world first (WDJT)

Rakus, a male Sumatran orangutan, treated a wound on his face by chewing leaves from a climbing plant named Akar Kuning and repeatedly applying the juice to it, ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Globalnews.ca"

Orangutan treats facial wound with medicinal plant in documented first (Globalnews.ca)

Rakus, an adult male orangutan, was seen chewing the stems and leaves of a medicinal plant into a poultice before applying it to his facial wound.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "WDBJ7"

A wild orangutan used a medicinal plant to treat a wound, scientists ... (WDBJ7)

An orangutan appeared ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Mother Jones"

Orangutan spotted treating his wound with a medicinal herb (Mother Jones)

The observation suggests “basic cognitive capacities…were present at the time of our last common ancestor.”

Post cover
Image courtesy of "CBC.ca"

When this orangutan got roughed up, he treated his wound with a ... (CBC.ca)

Scientists in Indonesia watched in awe as Rakus the orangutan carefully tended to his wound with a plant that's long been known to have healing properties.

Explore the last week