Researchers observed a Sumatran orangutan using sap and chewed leaves with medicinal properties to treat a facial wound, showcasing a new aspect of the primate's intelligence.
The discovery sheds light on the evolutionary origins of wound care behaviors and suggests that cognitive capacities for such actions existed in our common ancestors.
Wild animals like orangutans and chimpanzees have been seen using plants and insects with medicinal benefits to self-medicate, hinting at sophisticated cognitive abilities in primates.
The study highlights the parallel between human and animal wound care practices, with historical mentions of wound treatment dating back to 2200BC.
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