An orangutan named Rakus hit a rough patch in the summer of 2022.
Researchers heard a fight between male orangutans in the treetops of a rainforest in Sumatra, Indonesia; a day later, they spotted Rakus sporting a pink wound below his right eyelid.
A chunk of flesh about the size and shape of a puzzle piece was missing. When Rakus, who is most likely in his 30s, belted out a long call, the researchers noticed another wound inside his mouth.
Over the next several days, researchers followed Rakus at a distance and saw something so surprising they wound up reporting it in great detail in the journal Scientific Reports.
According to their study, published Thursday, Rakus was observed repeatedly chewing on the leaves of a particular liana plant over several days. The climbing vine is not a typical food for orangutans, but it is known to humans as a pain reliever.
On at least one occasion, Rakus made a paste from the chewed leaves and applied it to his face. Its the first time an animal has been seen applying medicine to a skin wound.
This is the beginning of the ape uprisingApes together strong.
It's interesting to think that human medicine may have began eons before we developed civilization. A bunch of random, smelly primates discovering that chewed up leaves make the ouchies feel better.
Probably increases the risk of infection, though. Primate mouths/saliva (humans included) is nasty, nasty stuff.
Does the plant he is using actually have medicinal properties?(such as painkilling, or maybe anti inflammatory, or antibacterial properties) if so then impressive.Did you read the OP?
If not then still impressive but much less so.
Does the plant he is using actually have medicinal properties?(such as painkilling, or maybe anti inflammatory, or antibacterial properties) if so then impressive.
The climbing vine is not a typical food for orangutans, but it is known to humans as a pain reliever.
Did you read the OP?He read the bolded part, which is still impressive but much less so
Apes together strong.
He read the bolded part, which is still impressive but much less soLmao
MICHALECOLE posted... He read the bolded part, which is still impressive but much less so
I'm a continued advocate for the concept of great ape personhood protections. Orangutans, chimps, bonobos, and gorillas are all crazy smart and I have a hard time believing folks that say they aren't sapient.
He read the bolded part, which is still impressive but much less soLoll
He read the bolded part, which is still impressive but much less so
He read the bolded part, which is still impressive but much less soHow do you know exactly what i did
This makes orangutans smarter than humans, because a human would have just tried to eat the poultice.Only humans are smart enough to say something so stupid.
I have a hard time believing folks that say they aren't sapient.They are sentient. Now, if an ape or monkey ever says I think therefore I am, then and only then will I consider them sapient. Off topic, but it really grinds my gears that that the vast majority of sci-fi uses the word sentient when it should be saying sapient.