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Wild orangutan seen healing his wound with a plant

It is the first time a creature in the wild has been seen using a medicinal plant to treat a wound.

A Sumatran orangutan in Indonesia has self-medicated using a paste made from plants to heal a large wound on his cheek, say scientists. A research team in the Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia spotted Rakus with a large wound on his cheek in June 2022. The scientists concluded that Rakus knew he was applying medicine because orangutans very rarely eat this particular plant and because of the length of the treatment.

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