Wiping after using the toilet or cleaning up after sex is basic hygiene for humans. However, researchers have observed some surprisingly similar behavior in chimpanzees, shedding new light on the evolutionary roots of such practices.
Chimpanzees have already been shown to have a strong sense of empathy. But new research shows that the spirit of mutual aid and solidarity extends to hygiene and personal care.
The study was carried out by a team of anthropology researchers from Oxford University and is published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. Over a four-month period, the researchers observed the East African chimpanzee communities of Sonso and Waibira, in Uganda's Budongo Forest.
Their observations were complemented by over 30 years of video footage shot at the Budongo Conservation Field Station (BCFS) by other researchers on site, showing how chimpanzees ensure their survival, whether by licking their wounds or extricating themselves from snares.
The findings highlight a number of surprising hygiene-related behaviors exhibited by chimpanzees. As well as licking their wounds, they apply the pre-chewed leaves of plants known for their bioactive properties, and apply pressure with their fingers to treat their wounds.
These primates are also capable of cleaning their genitals with leaves after mating and wiping their anus with leaves after defecation. These practices may help prevent infections, the study authors say.
Understanding behavior to inform conservation efforts
Even more surprisingly, the team found that chimpanzees in the Sonso community helped each other by tending to each other's wounds and even, as observed in one case, by wiping the penis of one of their peers after sexual intercourse.
This spirit of solidarity applied to individuals the chimpanzees were genetically related to and those they weren’t, "despite the potential risk from being exposed to pathogens," the researchers note.
"Our research helps illuminate the evolutionary roots of human medicine and healthcare systems," says Dr Elodie Freymann of the University of Oxford, first author of the article, quoted in a news release.
"By documenting how chimpanzees identify and utilize medicinal plants and provide care to others, we gain insight into the cognitive and social foundations of human healthcare behaviors."
These findings are of interest not only for understanding the origins of human medical and hygiene practices: they could also prove invaluable for the conservation of the chimpanzee species.
"As chimpanzee habitats become increasingly disrupted, and primate populations inch closer to extinction, understanding the socio-ecological pressures on chimpanzee healthcare behaviors could play a critical role in informing conservation strategies.
By uncovering and protecting the resources chimpanzees need to keep themselves healthy, as well as guarding against anthropogenic risks (e.g., snares) known to negatively impact chimpanzee wellbeing, we can help buffer free-ranging chimpanzees from environmental and climatic disturbances that increasingly threaten their survival," the study concludes. — AFP Relaxnews
