Sumatran Orangutan Wound Treatment Case Study

Sumatran Orangutan Wound Treatment

• Rakus, a 35-year-old male Sumatran orangutan, treated a cheek wound with a medicinal plant in Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia.

• The wound, believed to be from a fight, was first noticed on June 22, 2022.

• Rakus spent 13 minutes consuming a tropical vine (liana) known to locals for its healing properties.

• Afterward, he spent 7 minutes chewing the leaves and applying the juice to the wound.

• Rakus covered the wound with leaves to deter flies.

• The wound completely healed in 5 days, leaving a scar by July 19, 2022.

• This is the first documented case of a wild animal using a medicinal plant to treat a wound.

• The discovery was documented by Dr. Isabelle Laumer's team at Max Planck Research and published in Scientific Reports in May 2024.

• Rakus, following treatment, returned to the plant for further consumption and increased his resting time.

Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Status

• Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered, with an estimated population of 14,600 in the wild.

• They are endemic to the northern tip of Sumatra, Indonesia.

• Habitat loss, primarily due to oil palm plantations and agriculture, is a significant threat.

• Illegal hunting and capture for food or as status symbols also pose risks.

• Orangutan females reproduce slowly, with only one infant every 8-9 years.