Wild Orangutan Rakus Self-Medicates with Medicinal Plant Akar Kuning for Wound Healing: A First in Animal Behavior

Gunung Leuser National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia Indonesia
Akar kuning is a medicinal plant commonly used in Sumatra for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial properties.
Rakus' behavior could point to the origins of wound care in humans.
Wild Sumatran orangutan named Rakus self-medicated with medicinal plant Akar kuning for wound healing in June 2022.
Wild Orangutan Rakus Self-Medicates with Medicinal Plant Akar Kuning for Wound Healing: A First in Animal Behavior

In a groundbreaking discovery, a wild Sumatran orangutan named Rakus was observed using the medicinal plant Akar kuning (Fibraurea tinctoria) to treat a wound on his face in June 2022. This marks the first documented case of a wild animal self-medicating with a plant for wound healing.

Rakus, who lives in Gunung Leuser National Park in Indonesia, was seen chewing the plant and producing juice which he then applied to his wound and covered with the chewed-up plant material. The process took over 30 minutes, but within five days, the wound closed and healed within a month.

Akar kuning is a medicinal plant commonly used in Sumatra for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial properties. It has been used by humans to treat various conditions such as malaria, diabetes and dysentery.

The researchers from Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and Universitas Nasional, Jakarta were surprised by this observation as it is rare for orangutans to eat the plant or use it for medicinal purposes. They noted that Rakus' behavior could point to the origins of wound care in humans.

Rakus was also seen resting more than usual during this period which could have helped with wound healing. The team suggests that our last common ancestor may have shown similar forms of ointment behavior.

This observation adds to the growing body of evidence that animals, including primates, use plants for medicinal purposes. However, it is important to note that this is a single observation and further research is needed to confirm these findings.


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Confidence

91%

Doubts
  • It is important to note that this is a single observation and further research is needed to confirm these findings.
  • The researchers did not observe if other orangutans in the area also used Akar kuning for medicinal purposes.

Sources

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Orangutan Seen Healing His Facial Wound With Medicinal Plant

The Name Of The NZ Prefix. I PWA NZI.P.Was Dropped. Douglas Main Thursday, 02 May 2024 15:00
  • Unique Points
    • A Sumatran orangutan named Rakus was observed using a medicinal plant to treat a facial wound in Indonesia.
    • The plant used by Rakus, akar kuning or yellow root, has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Wild Orangutan Uses Herbal Medicine to Treat His Wound

Scientific American Meghan Bartels Friday, 03 May 2024 22:07
  • Unique Points
    • An orangutan named Rakus was observed applying leaves from an akar kuning plant to a wound on his face.
    • Rakus’ wound was barely visible by August 25, 2022, indicating that the application of the plant helped promote rapid healing.
    • Akar kuning, also known as Fibraurea tinctoria, is a common plant in Indonesia and has been recognized for its pain relief, inflammation reduction, antibacterial and antifungal characteristics in humans.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    No formal fallacies found. The author does not make any claims that are inherently true or false, but rather reports on the observations of researchers. There is a potential for an informal fallacy in the phrase 'We’ve never seen anything like this.' However, since it's a direct quote from an expert and not the author's own opinion, it doesn't qualify as a fallacy according to the analysis rules. The score is reduced by 5% due to this potential informal fallacy.
    • We’ve never seen anything like this.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

In a First, an Orangutan Healed His Own Wound Using a Known Medicinal Plant

Smithsonian Magazine Online Edition (www.smithsonianmag.com) Christian Thorsberg Friday, 03 May 2024 22:09
  • Unique Points
    • Sumatran orangutan named Rakus self-treated an injury using a medicinal plant called Akar Kuning (Fibraurea tinctoria) in June 2022.
    • Akar Kuning is a climbing vine native to the region and is known for its medicinal qualities, used to treat conditions such as diabetes, dysentery, malaria and has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antioxidant, pain-killing and anticarcinogenic properties.
    • Rakus consumed the plant and applied its juices and poultice to his wound where some flies had begun gathering.
    • Within five days of applying yellow root juices and mash, Rakus’s wound closed with no signs of infection after one month.
    • This is the first observation of a wild animal treating its own wound precisely with a medical plant.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The article contains a few informal fallacies. The author claims that Rakus is the first orangutan to be observed using a medicinal plant to treat wounds, but this is based on the limited observation of one individual orangutan and may not be representative of the wider population. Additionally, there is an appeal to authority when discussing the origins of self-medication for wounds, citing ancient medical manuscripts and experts in the field. However, these fallacies do not significantly detract from the overall quality of the article.
    • First orangutan to be observed using a medicinal plant to treat wounds
    • Rakus is the first orangutan ever witnessed self-treating an injury using a medicinal plant
    • The fact that this has only been observed once in the study population leaves many questions unanswered about the origin of the behavior, but it adds to the idea that self-medication may have very deep evolutionary roots in our lineage.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

100%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Orangutan is first wild animal seen treating injury with medicinal plant, scientists say

Axios News Site: https://www.axios.com/2024/01-30/prior-authorization-gap-insurer-drug-decisions Alison Snyder Friday, 03 May 2024 00:28
  • Unique Points
    • A wild orangutan named Rakus in Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia was observed using the medicinal plant Akar kuning (Fibraurea tinctoria) to treat a wound on his face.
    • Rakus chewed the plant and produced juice which he then applied to his wound and covered with the chewed-up plant material.
    • The process took over 30 minutes and within five days, the wound closed and healed within a month.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication