Scientists studying chimpanzees in Uganda’s Budongo Forest have observed that these primates not only treat their own wounds, but also care for other animals.
It appears that providing medical assistance among chimpanzees is a more widespread phenomenon than previously thought, and is not limited to caring for close relatives only.
Dr. Elodie Freeman of Oxford University, the lead author of the study published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, said, "Our research helps to shed light on the evolutionary roots of human medicine. By documenting how chimpanzees recognize, use, and provide assistance to other animals, we gain a deeper look into the cognitive and social foundations of human behavior."
Scientists studied two groups of chimpanzees in the Budongo Forest, "Sonso" and "Waibera." They observed that approximately 40% of the members of the Sonso group suffered from injuries caused by traps.
The researchers spent four months observing the two groups, identifying the plants the chimpanzees used for self-care and grooming. Some of these plants were found to contain chemical properties that may aid in wound healing and are also used in traditional medicine.
During direct observation, scientists recorded 12 injuries in the Sonso group, all resulting from internal conflicts, while five injuries were recorded in the Wybera group, including one female injured by a trap and four males injured in fights. The researchers also noted that the chimpanzees tended to injured individuals from the Sonso group more frequently than those from the Wybera group.
The researchers documented 41 cases of treatment overall, including 7 cases of treatment of other animals and 34 cases of self-treatment.
Freeman said: "Wound care in chimpanzees involves several behaviors, including licking wounds directly, which may transfer antimicrobial compounds present in saliva, licking fingers and then touching the wound, placing leaves on wounds, or chewing plant material and applying it directly to injuries. All the chimpanzees recovered, although we do not know if the results would have been different if they had not received any care. We also documented hygiene-related behaviors, such as cleaning the genitals with leaves after mating and wiping with leaves after defecating, which are practices that may help prevent infection."
