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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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[–] BurningRiver@beehaw.org 3 points 6 months ago

My Labrador uses one toy to push another toy around the yard when he’s playing around. Technically he’s using tools. As far as i’m concerned, he’s pretty damn smart. We as humans just have the faculty to destroy the planet for our own personal gain. There are plenty of other creatures who have intelligent thoughts, we as humans can’t kill them fast enough I guess.