We all know chimpanzees are our closest living relatives, but a recent study reveals a surprising talent they share with us: self-medication! Researchers in Uganda have observed chimps deliberately seeking out plants with medicinal properties to treat illnesses and injuries.
This isn’t just about chimps happening to eat plants that are good for them. The study, published in PLOS ONE, followed wild chimps in the Budongo Forest, documenting their behavior when they were sick or injured and what they ate during those times. The researchers found that the chimps specifically targeted certain plants not typically part of their diet when they were feeling unwell.
For instance, one chimp with a hurt hand munched on the leaves of a fern, which might have soothed the pain and swelling. Another with a suspected parasite infection went for the bark of a cat-thorn tree, a plant the group hadn’t been observed eating before. This particular bark was later found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, lending credence to the idea of self-medication.
This isn’t the first time chimps have been seen using plants in ways that suggest medicinal purposes. Past observations noted chimps chewing the bitter pith of a specific shrub, possibly to get rid of intestinal worms. What makes this new study interesting is the systematic approach, providing strong evidence that chimps have a connection between certain plants and their health benefits.
The findings are fascinating for a few reasons. First, it adds to the growing body of evidence that chimpanzees are intelligent creatures with a surprising understanding of their environment. Second, it highlights the potential of animal behavior to guide us in discovering new medicinal plants and developing new drugs. Who knows, maybe the next big medical breakthrough could come from observing what chimps are munching on in the jungle!
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