A male Sumatran orangutan in Indonesia appears to have used a particular leaf to heal facial wounds, in a rare example of animal self-medication in the wild, according to a study published Thursday. It was revealed.
Lacus, an orangutan born sometime in the 1980s, was observed selectively feeding on the stems and leaves of climbing plants in Gunung Leuser National Park in South Aceh, Indonesia. fibrourea tinctoriaAccording to , on June 25, 2022, locally known as Akal Kunin/Akal Paro/Yellow Route. the study. Within 13 minutes, Lacus also repeatedly rubbed the plant juices from his mouth onto a new open wound on the flange just below his right eye.
Scientists reported in their study that Lacus may have been injured in a fight with another male orangutan, as sounds of fighting could be heard before the animal was observed. According to a study published in the journal High Impact, when a fly bothered a wound on his face, Lacus covered it all with green plant pulp from his mouth. Nature.
The study revealed that Lacus continued to eat the leaves of the plant the next day. This great ape also had scars on its mouth, as observed when it made its cry.
By June 30, the wound on her face had closed, and two weeks later it appeared to be completely healed, with only a scar remaining, according to the study.
Lacus was resting for more than half of each day during this period, which may also have accelerated the healing process “because growth hormone release, protein synthesis, and cell division increase during sleep,” the scientists said. Reported in research. Lacus said she has less time to rest after the wound on her face healed. (Related article: Orangutan holds possum upright, causing onlookers to scream in horror)
According to research, the plant Akal Kuning has antibacterial, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antioxidant, and analgesic properties, and is traditionally used by some people in Indonesia to cure ailments, among other things. It is said that Akal Kunin is used to treat intestines, diabetes and malaria.
Although there are reports (and anecdotes) that great apes appear to similarly self-medicate with certain plants and insects, the overall evidence remains limited, according to the study.
“To our knowledge, this study is the first to systematically document putative active wound healing with biologically active plant substances in great apes and other non-human species.” seven scientists from Germany and Indonesia wrote in the research report. .
The study was non-invasive and observational, and there was no interaction between the scientists and Lacus, the scientists wrote, adding that they had been studying the area for 21 years. .
