Orangutan Seen Treating A Wound With A Medicinal Plant In World-First Observation

Local people use the plant medicinally, opening the question of whether one learned from the other.

In a groundbreaking observation, a wild Sumatran orangutan was seen using a medicinal plant to treat a wound, marking the first recorded instance of such behavior. Local people use the plant medicinally, prompting questions about whether one learned from the other.

The orangutan, known as Rakus to researchers, was observed chewing leaves of the Akar Kuning plant (Fibraurea tinctoria) and applying the juice to a wound on his cheek. This meticulous process lasted for seven minutes until the wound was entirely covered, indicating a deliberate action. Rakus continued to chew on the plant’s leaves for another half hour. Remarkably, the wound healed fully without any signs of infection.

Animal behaviorists have long been intrigued by stories of animals using plants for healing, particularly for treating parasites or infections. However, this deliberate application to a wound site represents a first for any species other than humans. The closest similar behavior is seen in chimpanzees, who apply unknown insects to their wounds.

Rakus was spotted by Dr. Isabelle Laumer and her team in the Gunung Leuser National Park with a wound on his right cheek in June 2022. Three days later, they witnessed him using Akar Kuning. Notably, Rakus applied the chewed leaves only to the wound, demonstrating a specific and purposeful use of the plant.

Sumatrans have long used Akar Kuning in traditional medicine to treat malaria, dysentery, diabetes, and even cancer. These traditional uses have piqued scientific interest, leading to tests on the plant’s effectiveness against these conditions. Though preclinical research has shown promising results, clinical trials are yet to be published.

While the exact cause of Rakus’s wound is unknown, sounds of a fight between adult males were heard in the area on the presumed day of injury. Such fights are rare due to the abundance of food, but the area lacked a dominant male, suggesting Rakus might have been vying for dominance.

After sustaining the wound, Rakus was observed resting more frequently until his full recovery, particularly in the initial days post-injury. The wound closed within four days of treatment and appeared fully healed within three weeks.

Orangutans are known to use medicinal plants avidly. There are numerous accounts of orangutans swallowing leaves to combat parasite infections, a common practice among other apes. Distinctively, (mostly) female Bornean orangutans have been reported chewing Dracaena cantleyi leaves and rubbing the lather on their limbs, possibly for muscle or bone pain relief, as suggested by Indigenous practices.

The researchers speculate that Rakus might have used Akar Kuning for pain relief, with its antibacterial properties being a fortunate side effect. Alternatively, it could have served to protect the wound from flies. They further speculate that the recognition and use of medicinal plants may date back to the common ancestor of humans and orangutans millions of years ago.

Despite its widespread use in Southeast Asia, Akar Kuning has not yet achieved global recognition. Should it ever be marketed in the West, Rakus’s remarkable self-medication could serve as the perfect promotional story.