Orangutan Discovers Medicinal Plant to Heal Wound, First Recorded Case for Great Apes

A study published in the journal Scientific Reports has revealed that an orangutan in a protected Indonesian rainforest site named Rakus treated his own facial wound using a plant with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and pain-relieving properties. The male primate was observed repeatedly chewing the leaves of the plant, Fibraurea tinctoria, known for its medicinal properties, before smearing the resulting paste onto his wound. This is believed to be the first recorded instance of a great ape intentionally using a known biologically active plant substance to heal a wound. Rakus was observed over several weeks in the summer of 2022 at the Suaq Balimbing research site in Indonesia, which is home to around 150 critically endangered Sumatran orangutans. The study’s authors suggest that Rakus may have learnt the behaviour through accidental discovery, as Fibraurea tinctoria has been traditionally used to treat conditions such as malaria due to its analgesic effects. Other studies have previously documented instances of primates ingesting plants to combat parasites and rubbing them on their skin to alleviate muscle pain. These observations have led some experts to believe that they could provide insights into human medicine. Dr Robin Sturtz, a vet who did not participate in the research, commented on the findings, stating that “they [great apes] are incredibly smart, though, and do learn quickly”. The study’s authors also suggested that this type of wound treatment may not be unique to humans. Caroline Schuppli, one of the study’s co-authors, remarked: “Forms of active wound treatment are not limited to humans. They can also be found in both African and Asian great apes.”