Orangutan’s Unique Behavior Suggests Medical Treatment of Wounds in Non-Humans Originated from a Shared Ancestor”.

In June 2022, researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior in Germany and Universitas Nasional in Indonesia observed a unique behavior by an orangutan male named Rakus. The observation took place in the Suaq Balimbing research area of Gunung Leuser National Park in Indonesia, where Rakus was seen applying a plant with medicinal properties to a wound under one of his eyes.

The plant used by Rakus is Akar Kuning (Fibraurea tinctoria), known for its analgesic and antipyretic effects. It is traditionally used to treat wounds, dysentery, diabetes, and malaria. What made Rakus’ behavior stand out was that he selectively treated his wound with the plant’s juice, covering it with chewed leaves. This intentional behavior suggests that medical treatment of wounds may have originated from a shared common ancestor of humans and orangutans.

While wild primate species have been observed using plants with medicinal properties, it was the first time that a great ape species was seen applying them to fresh wounds. Rakus’ wound healed in five days and was completely cured within a month due to the application of the plant’s juices. This behavior raises questions about the intentionality of such actions in non-human animals and how they develop.

It is possible that Rakus’ innovative behavior of treating wounds with Fibraurea tinctoria may have been absent in the behavioral repertoire of the Suaq orangutan population until now. The potential evolutionary origins of this behavior shed light on the existence of self-medication in our closest relatives and provide insights into the broader concept of wound medication among great apes.

In conclusion, Rakus I’s unique behavior exhibited by applying a plant with medicinal properties to his wound raises interesting questions about self-medication among non-human animals. This observation highlights how medical treatment may have originated from a shared common ancestor of humans and orangutans and provides valuable insights into their evolutionary history.

The discovery could also lead to further research on other primate species’ use of plants for medical purposes, which could potentially aid in developing new treatments for human health conditions.