Orangutan Wound Healing Case Study

What specific type of plant did Rakus use to treat his wound?

What was the likely cause of Rakus' cheek wound?

How old is Rakus, the orangutan who used the medicinal plant?

Where does Rakus live?

What did researchers first notice about Rakus on June 22, 2022?

What is significant about Rakus using a plant for wound treatment?

What factor is contributing to the decline in the population of Sumatran orangutans?

How long did Rakus' wound take to heal completely?

What was Rakus's behavior after using the plant juice on his wound?

What percentage of the Sumatran orangutan population remains in the wild?

Orangutan Wound Healing

Sumatran orangutans rarely eat the plant, but one named Rakus, sustained a wound.
Rakus dedicated the first 13 minutes to eating the plant, then used the juice to treat his wound.
He then dedicated another seven minutes to chewing the leaves and rubbing the juice on his injured cheek.
Five days later, the wound had closed, leaving only a scar.
Researchers published their findings in the journal Scientific Reports on May 2, 2024.
The researchers state that in addition to being a good nurse, Rakus was also a great patient.
After applying the healing juice, he rested to allow his wound to heal completely.
This case represents the first known case of active wound treatment in a wild animal with a medicinal plant.

Sumatran Orangutan

Sumatran orangutans are a critically endangered species.
There are only about 14,600 Sumatran orangutans left in the wild.
They primarily live in the northern tip of the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Their numbers have plummeted due to deforestation into palm oil plantations.
They are often captured for food.
Female orangutans typically give birth to just one infant every eight or nine years.
Their populations are susceptible to even very low levels of hunting.

Explore the remarkable case of Rakus, a Sumatran orangutan who utilized a medicinal plant to treat his wound. This quiz delves into the observations made by researchers regarding the self-care behaviors of orangutans in the wild. Discover how this behavior could impact our understanding of animal care and endangered species.