JIM MCMAHON/MAPMAN®
Rakus (ra-KOOS) is an orangutan that lives in the rainforests in Indonesia, a country in Southeast Asia. In 2022, scientists spotted Rakus chewing on a leaf that orangutans rarely eat. Then he spit it out and rubbed the mushy pulp onto his cheek. What was he doing?
Scientists took a closer look at Rakus. He had a painful wound on his cheek. The leaf Rakus chewed can ease pain and help wounds heal. Scientists realized that Rakus was likely using the plant as medicine to treat his wound! This is the first time scientists had observed this behavior in a wild animal, says Isabelle Laumer. She studies the behavior of orangutans and other great apes.
This discovery shows how orangutans have amazing learning abilities. Humans and orangutans “are definitely more similar than we are different,” says Laumer.