Facial injury of adult flanged male Rakus (image taken two days before using the plant mesh to the injury). Credit: Armas/ Suaq ProjectA wild orangutan was seen treating a wound with a plant understood for its medicinal qualities, marking the very first such observation in a wild animal.Although there are documented cases of animals self-medicating, up until now, there had actually been no understood circumstances of animals utilizing medical plants to treat their injuries. Wound treatment with a biologically active compound has so far not been documented.Study of Orangutan Wound TreatmentIn a research study released in Scientific Reports, evolutionary and cognitive biologists from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz, Germany, and Universitas Nasional, Indonesia report evidence of active injury treatment with a recovery plant in a wild male Sumatran orangutan. Individuals may unintentionally touch their injuries while feeding on this plant and thus unintentionally use the plants juice to their wounds. “The treatment of human injuries was most likely very first pointed out in a medical manuscript that dates back to 2200 BC, which consisted of cleaning, plastering, and bandaging of injuries with certain injury care substances,” says Schuppli.
Wound treatment with a biologically active compound has so far not been documented.Study of Orangutan Wound TreatmentIn a study published in Scientific Reports, evolutionary and cognitive biologists from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz, Germany, and Universitas Nasional, Indonesia report evidence of active injury treatment with a recovery plant in a wild male Sumatran orangutan. Individuals may mistakenly touch their wounds while feeding on this plant and therefore unintentionally use the plants juice to their wounds. “The treatment of human injuries was most likely first pointed out in a medical manuscript that dates back to 2200 BC, which consisted of cleansing, plastering, and bandaging of wounds with specific injury care substances,” states Schuppli.