Smart Orangutan Uses Medicinal Plant To Heal Wound
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A Sumatran orangutan named Rakus has stunned researchers by treating a cheek wound with a medicinal plant. The male primate, believed to be about 35 years old, lives in Gunung Leuser National Park in northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The protected rainforest is home to over 750 animal species, including 150 orangutans.
Dr. Isabelle Laumer and her team at Max Planck Research first noticed the primate's wound on June 22, 2022. They believe it was most likely the result of a fight with another orangutan. Three days later, they caught Rakus chewing on the stems and leaves of a tropical vine called liana. The plant is known to locals for its healing properties.
Since Sumatran orangutans rarely eat the plant, the scientists were intrigued and decided to observe and document Rakus' behavior. The orangutan spent the first 13 minutes eating the plant. He then dedicated another seven minutes to chewing the leaves and rubbing the juice on his injury. When flies began hovering around the cut, the clever primate covered it with the leaves. Within five days, the wound had closed. By July 19, 2022, it was completely healed — only a scar remained.
"This case represents the first known case of active wound treatment in a wild animal with a medical plant," Laumer told NPR.
The researchers revealed their findings in the journal Scientific Reports on May 2, 2024. They state that in addition to being a good nurse, Rakus was also a great patient. The day after applying the healing juice to his wound, the orangutan returned to the plant to eat more leaves. He also rested more than usual to allow his body to heal.
Sumatran orangutans are a critically endangered species, with only about 14,600 left in the wild. The primates can only be found in the northern tip of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Their numbers have plummeted due to the widespread conversion of rainforests into oil palm plantations and other agricultural development. Also, despite being legally protected, the animals are often captured for food or to be kept in households as status symbols. Since females give birth to just one infant at a time every eight or nine years, their populations are susceptible to even very low levels of hunting.
Resources: NPR.com, Smithsonianmag.com, worldwildlife.org
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56 Comments
sophiaak6 monthswhat huh I mean this is awesome but its really cool this is like a once in a lifetime chance to see a orangutan do such a amazing thing
rishaan116 monthsWHat a smart and talented orangutan. No wonder the scientists themselves were amused and confused as well of how he/she healed itself. Also, see how the power of herbs heal wounds? Cuz that's how they created medicine, from herbs, some maybe human chemicals and stuff?
lstewart67 monthsAw hope he gets better
pokepro9986 monthsHe did get better.
ingojones7 monthsI'm not surprised orangutans, chimpanzees, and monkeys are very smart.- sophiaak6 monthsI know cause orangutans, chimpanzees and monkeys are almost the same as humans
kabl757 monthspoor Rakus- mward187 monthshe so cute too
- mward187 monthsso cool
- mward187 monthsis also wonder how he/she/they got the wound and do oragutan fights result in deaths of themselves or other orangutans
- mward187 monthsKeeping organutans as pets is so cruel but orangutans are cool animals
- mward187 monthsThey are indangered species
