Chimpanzees in Uganda’s Budongo Forest have been observed treating their own injuries and caring for others, a discovery that sheds light on the evolutionary roots of human medicine and health care systems.
Study Overview
Researchers at the University of Oxford studied two communities of chimpanzees over four months, recording:
- 17 cases of injury or illness likely caused by within-group conflicts or human activities such as hunting or poaching.
- 41 instances of either self-directed wound care or prosocial health-related actions towards other group members, including removing snares from fellow group members’ bodies.
Key Findings
- Treatment Methods: In many cases, multiple types of treatment were applied simultaneously, possibly reflecting individual preferences rather than sequential treatments for separate parts of an injury.
- Recovery Observations: All individuals showing signs consistent with recovery from injuries did so without receiving any apparent external assistance during observation periods. While all individuals recovered from visible symptoms following reported incidents involving physical harm, researchers cannot rule out unobserved mortality due to unseen severe trauma.
Variation in Medicinal Plant Use
The study found significant variation between groups regarding the frequency and type of medicinal plant usage:
- The Sonso population demonstrated higher rates and variety of medicinal plant use compared to the Waibira population, which exhibited lower levels despite having access to the same forest habitat. Social hierarchy stability may be a contributing factor to this difference.
Chemical Properties of Medicinal Plants
Researchers discovered that some plants used by chimpanzees have chemical properties similar to those found in traditional medicines used today. This suggests that medical care among chimpanzees is more widespread than previously thought and could shed light on how our ancestors first began treating wounds and using medicines.
Implications of the Findings
The findings highlight a crucial distinction between recovery versus survival outcomes among injured chimpanzees, emphasizing their remarkable ability to identify medicinal plants with potential healing properties without external assistance during observation periods.
Dr. Elodie Freymann, the lead author of the study published in Science Advances, stated, "Our research helps illuminate the evolutionary roots of human medicine and health care systems. By documenting how chimpanzees identify and utilize medicinal plants — and provide care — we gain insight into the cognitive foundations underpinning human healthcare behaviors."
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