First, Sumatran orangutan ‘Rakus’ uses medicinal plants to heal its wound: know what research says | Knowledge News

Rakus, a Sumatran orangutan, healed his own wounds using medicinal plants. According to research, the orangutan chewed the leaves of the medicinal plant without swallowing them, and also used its fingers to apply the plant juice from its mouth directly to its facial wound.

New Delhi: The world is full of natural wonders, and we never tire of nature’s surprises. People need doctors to heal themselves, and so do animals. But have you seen animals that can treat their ailments? This unique animal behavior not only fascinates us, but also connects us with the natural world. Recently, a Sumatran orangutan was seen using a plant to treat a facial wound that may have been sustained during a fight. Let us know more about the Sumatran orangutan and how understanding their behavior can deepen our bond with them.

Rakus, the Sumatran orangutan

Rakus, the Sumatran orangutan, is believed to have been born in 1989. He is a flanged male with large cheek pads on both sides of his face. Rakus was one of the dominant males in the area, known for his unique behavior.

What is the scientific report about?

An orangutan in Sumatra has amazed the scientific community with its unique behavior. He was observed treating an open wound on his cheek with a compress made from a medicinal plant. This event is rare in the animal kingdom and marks an important milestone in animal behavior. It is the first scientific report of a wild animal healing a wound using a medicinal plant. This discovery has given us insight into the extraordinary abilities of animals. It was published on Thursday, May 2, in the journal Nature Scientific Reports.

According to the research, the orangutan started chewing the leaves of the medicinal plant, without swallowing them. The orangutan also used its fingers to apply plant sap from its mouth directly to its facial wound, the study added.

According to the magazine, the researcher observed Rakus eating the vine leaves again the next day. The orangutan’s wound miraculously closed about a week later and healed without any sign of infection. This remarkable healing process offers a glimmer of hope and optimism and demonstrates the resilience and adaptability of nature.

What did the study co-author say?

According to Caroline Schuppli: “It shows that orangutans and humans share knowledge. Since they live in the same habitat, I would say this is quite obvious, but still intriguing to realize.” Schuppli is a primatologist at the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior in Konstanz, Germany, and is also a co-author of the study. This finding deepens our understanding of animal behavior and highlights the potential for mutual learning and interaction between humans and animals in the natural world.

Schuppli’s team was observing Sumatran orangutans in Gunung Leuser National Park in South Aceh, Indonesia, in 2009, when a young male wandered into the forest. The young orangutan did not have the large cheek pads (flanges) of an adult male. He was probably around twenty years old and was named Rakus after he ate all the flowers of a gardenia bush in one go.

Rakus spurted in 2021 and became an adult flanged male. The researchers have seen Rakus fight with other flanged males to establish dominance. In June 2022, a field assistant noticed an open wound on his face, possibly caused by the canines of another male.