Talking Apes
Talking Apes
GLOBIO
Orangutans Using Wild Medicines with Dr Isabelle Laumer | Episode 59
31 minutes Posted Nov 12, 2024 at 2:00 am.
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In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have observed a male orangutan, Rakus, using plants as medicine—a first-ever recording of a wild animal self-medicating for wound care. This unique behavior was spotted in the jungle, where Rakus chewed the stem and leaves of a plant known for its anti-inflammatory properties and applied it to his injured cheek. The wound, likely caused by a territorial fight, healed within a month. What makes this finding extraordinary is its implications for both o...