Surgical Savvy Chimps: Ugandan Apes' Hygienic Habits Revealed
Primates exhibit Anal Cleaning Behavior Similar to Humans
From mucking about in the jungle to rummaging through their medicine cabinet, chimpanzees have plenty in common with humans. Now, a team of researchers has documented a surprising hygienic behavior in these great apes: They've been wiping their behinds with leaves, just like us!
And it doesn't stop there. The new study, published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, indicates that these jungle gorillas are also keen on wound treatment, using a variety of plants for healing. These behaviors, the researchers say, might offer a glimpse into the roots of healthcare and medicine in humans.
The international study group, which includes researchers from Germany, meticulously observed two chimpanzee communities in Uganda's Budongo Forest. Ten chimps, both male and female, were recorded cleaning their nether regions with plant leaves post-coitus. One female even wiped her behind with leaves after relieving herself in the forest. According to lead author Elodie Freymann of the University of Oxford, this could help prevent infections and boost overall health.
Nature's Pharmacy: Animals' Medicine
Chimps aren't alone in their self-medication. Reports already exist of chimps using plants to heal wounds, while last year a German team made headlines when they discovered an orangutan self-treating a facial wound with a healing plant. Elephants, civet cats, porcupines, and brown bears also partake in such self-care, according to the researchers.
"Our research adds to the understanding of the evolutionary roots of medicine and health care in humans," Freymann said in a university statement. "Documenting how chimps identify and use medicinal plants, and how they care for their peers, offers insight into the cognitive and social foundations of human care."
The team focused on wounds chimp -- some from fights and human traps -- acquired in the Budongo Protected Area. The researchers observed various wound-treatment techniques:
- Wound-Licking: Chimps might lick wounds to eliminate splinters and kill bacteria with antibacterial components in their saliva.
- Finger-Pressing: Chimps press fingers drenched in saliva onto wounds, presumably for cleaning or sterilization.
- Leaf-Dabbing: The apes dab wounds with leaves to remove dirt and debris.
- Plant Mashing: Chimps also apply chewed plant material to wounds.
Freymann notes that all the chimps recovered from their wounds, but it's uncertain how the outcome would have been without the treatments. The group emphasizes that some of the plants used possess antibacterial, antifungal, analgesic, or anti-inflammatory properties.
Female Solidarity: Bonobo Sisterhood
In Gabon, chimps have been observed using insects to mend wounds, while chewing and eating leaves may serve as a form of deworming, according to the team. This sense of shared care and communication, they assert, underscores chimps' ability to identify and care for others, providing further insights into the origins of human healthcare practices.
[Source: ntv.de, kst/dpa]
- Chimps
- Healthcare
- Hygiene
Mentioned Plants and Their Medicinal Properties:
- Acalypha: Known for its antimicrobial properties, this plant helps prevent infection.
- Pseudospondias microcarpa: This plant is recognized for pain relief, reducing inflammation, and aiding in wound healing.
- Lasiodiscus pervillei: This plant functions as a cleanser, helping to remove dirt and debris from wounds.
- Argomuellera macrophylla: Traditionally used in African medicine, this plant is employed to treat skin infections and other ailments.
These behaviors showcase chimps' ability to offer care and illustrate a sophisticated understanding of medicinal plants, possibly offering clues to the origins of human healthcare practices.
- The community policy regarding the use of technology in studying chimpanzees must address the need for non-invasive methods, considering their inclusion in the realm of health and wellness.
- The employment policy for researchers studying chimpanzees should emphasize the importance of integrating knowledge about therapies and treatments, such as the medicinal properties of plants like Acalypha and Pseudospondias microcarpa, in their investigations.
- As more discoveries about chimpanzees' self-medication using plants and their hygienic behaviors come to light, it becomes increasingly crucial to integrate these findings into the scientific community's understanding of medical-conditions and the development of new CBD-based treatments.
