Rakus, The Self-medicating Orangutan

Meet Rakus, a male Sumatran orangutan who recently caught the attention of the scientific community. He was spotted in Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia , with a noticeable wound on his right cheek -likely from a confrontation with another orangutan.

What amazed researchers came afterward: they observed Rakus carefully selecting and using a plant known as akar kuning (Fibraurea tinctoria). This climbing vine is traditionally used in local medicine for its potential pain-relieving and antibacterial properties.

Rakus chewed the plant’s stems and leaves, extracted the juice, and applied it directly to his wound. He then placed the chewed remains on top of the injury, almost like a natural bandage. He repeated this process for several days, and gradually, the wound started to heal without any visible signs of infection.

After about a month, the wound had fully closed. This behavior, documented by a team of primatologists, is considered one of the first known examples of a wild animal using medicinal plants for self-treatment.

The discovery provides fascinating insights into the intelligence of great apes and how they may instinctively use nature’s resources to care for themselves. It also opens up exciting possibilities for future studies on animal self-medication.