Orangutan Rakus Uses Plant as Medicine for Self-healing, Researchers Say

A fascinating discovery was made in the summer of 2022 when researchers witnessed an unexpected behavior from an orangutan named Rakus in the rainforest of Sumatra, Indonesia. This remarkable event sheds new light on the capabilities of these great apes.

A Startling Observation

During the summer of 2022, researchers were startled to witness a fight between male orangutans in the treetops of a rainforest in Sumatra, Indonesia. Shortly after, they noticed Rakus with a noticeable wound below his right eyelid, about the size and shape of a puzzle piece. Additionally, a wound inside his mouth was observed when Rakus emitted a long call.

Unprecedented Behavior

Over the next several days, researchers observed Rakus chewing on the leaves of a particular liana plant, which is not a typical food for orangutans. What came as a surprise was the use of these leaves as a pain reliever, and even more astonishing was Rakus making a paste from the leaves and applying it to his face to treat his wound.

New Evidence of Self-Medication

Rakus' wound healed without showing any signs of infection, and it closed up within a week. This discovery provides new evidence that orangutans are capable of identifying and using pain-relieving plants, indicating a level of sophistication in their behavioral repertoire.

Protected Research Area

The discovery was made possible due to the orangutan's habitation in a protected area of the rainforest called the Suaq Balimbing research area, within Indonesia’s Gunung Leuser National Park. Researchers have been observing orangutans in this area since 1994.

Orangutans in the area have been observed since 1994, providing researchers with valuable insights into their behavior. Rakus, who was first observed in 2009, has become a subject of particular interest due to his unprecedented self-medication behavior.

Social Learning and Sophistication

It is speculated that Rakus may have learned this behavior through individual innovation or culturally from other orangutans. Orangutans are known to learn socially and are capable of using tools, displaying sophisticated knowledge of their food sources, with some individuals feeding on up to 400 different plants.

Historical Significance

Evidence of animal self-medication has been mounting in recent decades, showing that animals have a level of control over their lives and can adapt to circumstances for their survival. Researchers believe that ancient humans may have learned to identify medicinal plants and substances from observing animals, leading to the development of medicinal practices.