Wild chimpanzees in Uganda are well-documented as deliberately and actively using natural resources to promote their health and well-being. They use plants and bumble bees to heal wounds and combat the effects of parasitism. This intriguing discovery draws our attention not only to the sophisticated behavior of these primates but to the questions regarding how far their medicinal knowledge may go.
These recent observations in Kibale National Park have opened our eyes to the idea that chimpanzees do things on purpose to make themselves feel better. They enthusiastically munch on coarse greens to aid in the removal of intestinal parasites. In addition, they feed on the bitter shoots, which have been shown to possess anti-parasitic activities. In a groundbreaking, unprecedented event, a teenage female chimpanzee named Fricka tended to her brother’s injury. She navigated her close combat flying weapon with great precision, learned behavior, or an evolved reflex for injury targeting.
Innovative Wound Treatment
The use of flying insects is especially exciting. Chimpanzees in the Kibale community have been observed immobilizing these insects and delicately dabbing them onto open wounds. This behavior wasn’t an anomaly. By her own traumatic experience with an insect that healed her, we learn that she knows why people get injured and how to treat an injury. Another chimp, Damien, exhibited similar behavior. This adds yet another layer to the argument that this practice may be more broadly applicable outside of blood relations.
Beyond the behavior itself, the use of insects to treat injuries invites basic but fundamental questions about how such a behavior would be transmitted between individual chimpanzees. Researchers are eager to understand whether such practices are learned by observing others or if they emerge spontaneously within the species.
“Curiosity” – [“Nosey by nature: chimpanzees and children share a strong curiosity about the lives of others” – https://www.newswise.com/articles/nosey-by-nature-chimpanzees-and-children-share-a-strong-curiosity-about-the-lives-of-others]
Social and Health Behaviors
Chimpanzees have complex social lives. They touch each other through behaviors such as grooming, sharing food, and supporting each other during conflicts. As we’ve seen this year and during previous crises, their intelligence shines in how they respond to public health challenges. We have observed that chimpanzees use leaves to dab the wounds of strangers. This tendency to act strikes someone as outside immediate family blood relations.
This communal side to wound healing complicates their health habits even further. Though chimpanzees are known as a vicious species, they display feelings of empathy when caring for the wounded. This knowledge of social bonds and their importance to wellbeing and survival is crucial to keeping them thriving in the wild.
The Future of Chimpanzee Health Research
The implications of these chimpanzee health behaviors emphasize the necessity of more research into their medicinal practices. A subsequent study on the same community of chimpanzees uncovered that they use leaves to medicate wounds. This powerful insight brings up profound issues to consider. How much do they actually understand about these natural remedies, and can we even truly consider some of these behaviors a type of medicine?