Is This A Planet Of The Apes?
For the first time ever, researchers have proof that orangutans can treat wounds. It appears we’re not the only healers on our planet!
An orangutan in Indonesia healed a large facial wound he had by eating a medicinal plant, and, eventually, chewing/crushing the plant’s leaves up into a paste and smearing the paste onto the wound. Researchers in Indonesia’s Gunung Leuser National Park watched in amazement over a period of several weeks as Rakus, as he’s named, treated his fresh wound. The wound was noted on June 22nd, according to the study published in Nature. By August 5th, thanks to his careful ministrations, the wound was fully healed.
Researchers were unsure how Rakus learned to treat his own wound. They 
hypothesized that he may have learned from watching other orangutans. He may also have stumbled upon the secrets of medicine himself. Perhaps, suggested one study member, quoted in the Wall Street Journal, he was pleasantly surprised by the pain-relieving effects of the plant, and therefore self-administered it until he healed fully. How remarkable to witness this capability for healing in other mammals- though I hope a war with the apes is never on our horizon. 🦧
