Revolutionary Discovery: Sumatran Orangutan Self-Medicates, Demonstrating Human-Like Behavior
May, 4 2024
Science and Environment
Talia Van Rensburg
In a groundbreaking observation, a Sumatran orangutan known as Rakus treated its own facial wound using the medicinal plant Fibraurea tinctoria, known for its antibacterial and pain-relieving properties. This rare instance of self-medication in wildlife hints at cognitive similarities with humans, a finding that could reshape our understanding of animal intelligence and medicine.