Scientists in Indonesia have observed a male Sumatran orangutan named Rakus using a local herb called Akar Kuning to treat facial wounds. This behavior was first discovered in June 2022 in the Suaq Balimbing area of Gunung Leuser National Park. The research team, led by Isabelle Laumer from the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior, was excited by this observation as it was the first time they had seen a wild primate deliberately use a plant to treat a wound.
The team believes that Rakus may have been injured in a rare fight with another male orangutan, as orangutans in the region generally have stable social hierarchies and rarely get injured. This behavior raises the possibility of a common ancestor between humans and orangutans, as both species are known to use herbal remedies for medicinal purposes.
To further investigate this behavior, the research team plans to monitor injured orangutans in the area to see if this behavior is repeated. They hope that their findings will draw attention to the critically endangered status of orangutans in the wild and highlight their potential medicinal knowledge and abilities.
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