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Sumatran orangutan in Indonesia has self-medicated using a paste made from plants to heal a large wound on his cheek, say scientists (www.bbc.com)

submitted 6 months ago by tardigrada@beehaw.org to c/science@beehaw.org

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It is the first time a creature in the wild has been recorded treating an injury with a medicinal plant.

After researchers saw Rakus applying the plant poultice to his face, the wound closed up and healed in a month.

Scientists say the behaviour could come from a common ancestor shared by humans and great apes.

"They are our closest relatives and this again points towards the similarities we share with them. We are more similar than we are different," said biologist Dr Isabella Laumer at the Max Planck institute in Germany and lead author of the research.

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[–] xilliah@beehaw.org 7 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I've always thought the idea that consciousness just suddenly starts with us makes no sense. I can't believe it exists within a vacuum.

Take the eye as analogy. Eagles might have the best eyes in one sense, but dragonflies have a panoramic view and see more colors.

There's also convergent evolution happening all over the place. If consciousness is useful for us, it must be for other animals too. Same for intelligence and so on.