Orangutan Self-Treatment of Facial Wound in Indonesian Rainforest
An orangutan in an Indonesian rainforest treated a facial wound by chewing leaves of a plant known for its healing properties and applying the paste to the wound. The wound healed within five days, showing the orangutan's intentional behavior in self-treatment.
Key Points
- Orangutan named Rakus treated his facial wound with a plant paste
- Behavior observed by researchers from Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and Universitas Nasional
- First observed case of active wound treatment with a biologically active plant substance by a male Sumatran orangutan in the wild
Pros
- Demonstrates intelligent and intentional behavior in primates
- Potential for learning about medicinal properties of plants from animals
Cons
- Limited observation to one case study
- Efficiency and repeatability of the behavior need further study