Ape Treating His Wound Using Medicinal Plant is a World First for a Wild Animal

Michie · May 6, 2024

Even though there is evidence of certain self-medication behaviors in animals, so far it has never been known that animals treat their wounds with healing plants. Now, biologists in Indonesia have observed this in a male Sumatran orangutan.

After sustaining a facial wound, he ate and repeatedly applied sap from a climbing plant with anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties commonly used in traditional medicine. He also covered the entire wound with the green plant mesh.

The closest relatives to humans, the great apes, are known to ingest specific plants to treat parasite infection and to rub plant material on their skin to treat sore muscles.

Continued below.

Ape Treating His Wound Using Medicinal Plant is a World First for a Wild Animal

An ape was seen treating a wound using a medicinal plant for the first time. Days later the Sumatran orangutan had successfully healed it.

www.goodnewsnetwork.org

AV1611VET · May 6, 2024

Michie said:
Ape Treating His Wound Using Medicinal Plant is a World First for a Wild Animal
Even though there is evidence of certain self-medication behaviors in animals, so far it has never been known that animals treat their wounds with healing plants. Now, biologists in Indonesia have observed this in a male Sumatran orangutan.

After sustaining a facial wound, he ate and repeatedly applied sap from a climbing plant with anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties commonly used in traditional medicine. He also covered the entire wound with the green plant mesh.

The closest relatives to humans, the great apes, are known to ingest specific plants to treat parasite infection and to rub plant material on their skin to treat sore muscles.

Okay, which is it?

Is it a world first?
Is it the first time someone has observed it?
Has it been known all along?

If this is the very first time this has been observed, and there are what, thousands and thousands of these guys around, what does that say about scientific vigilance?

I suspect this is just a ploy to reiterate their propaganda that these guys are our "closest relatives."

Michie · May 6, 2024

AV1611VET said:
Okay, which is it?

Is it a world first?

Is it the first time someone has observed it?

Has it been known all along?

If this is the very first time this has been observed, and there are what, thousands and thousands of these guys around, what does that say about scientific vigilance?

I suspect this is just a ploy to reiterate their propaganda that these guys are our "closest relatives."

Yep it’s a world first as far as we know of concerning the use of medicinal plants. I think it’s wonderful.

AV1611VET · May 6, 2024

Michie said:
Yep it’s a world first as far as we know of concerning the use of medicinal plants. I think it’s wonderful.

Then what's this?

The closest relatives to humans, the great apes, are known to ... rub plant material on their skin to treat sore muscles.

Michie · May 6, 2024

AV1611VET said:
Then what's this?

This is the hobby forum. It’s not up for debate. Take it or leave it but I’m not going to dragged into your obsession.

AV1611VET · May 6, 2024

Michie said:
This is the hobby forum. It’s not up for debate. Take it or leave it but I’m not going to dragged into your obsession.

Well, I'm sorry.

But it's not my fault your OP contradicts itself.

And I suspect it isn't your fault either.

It's just a poorly written article that doesn't match the title.

The title says it's a "world first," but the article says they are known "to rub plant material on their skin to treat sore muscles."

Something's fishy.

Michie · May 6, 2024

A chimpanzee group in Gabon was recently observed applying insects to wounds, although the efficiency of the behavior is still unknown. Wound treatment with a biologically active substance, however, has never been documented before.

AV1611VET · May 6, 2024

Michie said:
A chimpanzee group in Gabon was recently observed applying insects to wounds, although the efficiency of the behavior is still unknown. Wound treatment with a biologically active substance, however, has never been documented before.

From your misleading OP,* with my comments:

Even though there is evidence of certain self-medication behaviors in animals, so far it has never been known [not never been documented, as you said] that animals treat their wounds with healing plants. Now, biologists in Indonesia have observed this in a male Sumatran orangutan.

[Despite the fact that the article goes on to say: The closest relatives to humans, the great apes, are known to ingest specific plants to treat parasite infection and to rub plant material on their skin to treat sore muscles.]

* Again, I'm not saying you are misleading. I'm saying the article is misleading. But you can't see it for some reason.

Michie · May 6, 2024

AV1611VET said:
From your misleading OP,* with my comments:

Even though there is evidence of certain self-medication behaviors in animals, so far it has never been known [not never been documented, as you said] that animals treat their wounds with healing plants. Now, biologists in Indonesia have observed this in a male Sumatran orangutan.

[Despite the fact that the article goes on to say: The closest relatives to humans, the great apes, are known to ingest specific plants to treat parasite infection and to rub plant material on their skin to treat sore muscles.]

* Again, I'm saying you are misleading. I'm saying the article is misleading. But you can't see it for some reason.

No. But I don’t have an agenda.

AV1611VET · May 6, 2024

Michie said:
No. But I don’t have an agenda.

Your article certainly does.

But they were so gung-ho to push that agenda, they made a huge mistake.

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Ape Treating His Wound Using Medicinal Plant is a World First for a Wild Animal

Michie

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