An orangutan in Indonesia was spotted using a medicinal plant to treat a skin wound, which is the first time the behavior has been observed in apes. The male ape, named Rakus, treated a wound on his face with the Akar Kuning plant. He chewed the leaves, applied the juice extracted from the plant onto his face, and then covered the wound with the chewed leaves. The Akar Kuning plant is historically used to treat illnesses like diabetes and malaria. Rakus’ impressive behavior has excited scientists, who are now researching how Rakus learned about the healing properties of the Akar Kuning plant. Rakus serves as a symbol of how self-medication has evolved from our closest animal relatives, and shows just how similar apes and humans can be.
Image via CNN
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