Orang utan’s use of medicinal plant to treat wound intrigues scientists

Researchers described how Rakus the orang utan appeared to intentionally treat the wound using a plant known for its pain-relieving properties. - AFP

MEDAN: In June 2022, a male Sumatran orang utan named Rakus sustained a facial wound below the right eye, apparently during a fight with another male orang utan at the Suaq Balimbing research site, a protected rainforest area in Indonesia. What Rakus did three days later really caught the attention of scientists.

Researchers on Thursday (May 2) described observing how Rakus appeared to treat the wound using a plant known for its pain-relieving properties and for supporting wound healing due to its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and antioxidant qualities.