Chimpanzees use medicinal leaves to perform first aid, scientists discover

Chimps Use Healing Plants To Treat Each Other’s Wounds And Clean Up After Sex

Health care between chimpanzees is more common than we thought, and is given to members of a troop that may not be closely related.

Chimps observered using plants to perform first aid

They also use leaves to clean themselves after intercourse to help prevent infections.

Chimps observered using plants to perform first aid on loved ones

They also use leaves to clean themselves after intercourse to help prevent infections.

Wild chimpanzees seen giving ‘first aid’ to each other with medicinal plants

Footage shows chimpanzees using leaves with antibacterial properties to dab on open wounds

Wild chimpanzees filmed using forest 'first aid'

The research builds on the discovery that chimps seek out and eat certain plants to self-medicate.

In the depths of the Burongo forest, Uganda, there are two communities of chimpanzees: Sonso and Waibira. As in any other group of apes, their members are susceptible to being hurt, either accidentally, by fights between them or by traps set up by humans. But then, according to a team of scientists at Oxford University, primates rip off medicinal leaves and try to cure with them not only their own wounds, but also those of others. The finding sh…