Meet Rakus, a 30-something doctor from the lush equatorial forests of Sumatra. This incredible orangutan recently showed us that sometimes, the best doctor is yourself!
Rakus was spotted by researchers in June 2022 with a nasty wound under his right eye. Without a human surgeon in sight, he decided to take matters into his own hands—or rather, his own mouth. He plucked leaves from the Fibraurea tinctoria plant, known locally as “akar kuning,” which has been used for centuries by indigenous people for its healing properties.
Rakus chewed the leaves into a paste and applied it directly to his wound, repeating the process for several minutes. This might sound like something out of a jungle survival guide, but it’s all true! By June 22, 2022, the researchers saw his injury, and three days later, they watched as he started his plant-based treatment. It took him 13 minutes to prepare the poultice and 7 minutes to apply it multiple times, a clear sign that he knew exactly what he was doing.
What’s really amazing is that Rakus’s wound healed completely just a few days after he started his self-treatment. This case was so fascinating that it was published in the prestigious journal, Nature. According to the lead author, Dr. Isabelle Laumer from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Rakus’s use of the plant was deliberate and knowledgeable, highlighting the incredible intelligence and similarities between humans and orangutans.
This discovery isn’t just a cool story about an orangutan with a DIY attitude—it gives us insight into how early humans might have started using plants for medicine. It suggests that our common ancestors with great apes, living millions of years ago, might have had similar self-medicating behaviors.
Rakus’s impressive skills make us wonder—where did he learn this technique? Did he watch other orangutans, or was it a happy accident? Whatever the case, Rakus is a testament to the intelligence and resilience of wildlife.
Unfortunately, deforestation threatens the habitats of these incredible creatures. There are only about 14,000 orangutans left in Sumatra, and their forest home is disappearing fast. It’s up to us to protect these natural healers and their environment.
So, next time you’re feeling adventurous, think of Rakus and his jungle remedy. And remember, nature has a lot to teach us—if we’re willing to listen.
