A wild orangutan used a medicinal plant to treat a wound, scientists say

An orangutan appeared to treat a wound with medicine from a tropical plant — the latest example of how some animals attempt to soothe their own ills with remedies found in the wild, scientists reported Thursday. Scientists observed Rakus pluck and chew up leaves of a medicinal plant used by people throughout Southeast Asia to treat pain and inflammation. The adult male orangutan then used his fingers to apply the plant juices to an injury on his right cheek.

“It’s a single observation,' said Emory University biologist Jacobus de Roode, who was not involved in the study. “But often we learn about new behaviors by starting with a single observation.” 'Very likely it’s self-medication,” said de Roode, adding that the orangutan applied the plant only to the wound and no other body part.

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