If you always thought that only humans cleared the tail after doing the needs, think again. And they also have their “first aid kit” in the forest.
Science also thought like this, but a new study on Tuesday at Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution revealed that chimpanzees in the Budongo forest in Uganda use leaves as a toilet paper-and beyond.
After mating, they also clean the genitals Similarly and use their own “first aid kit” with plants, to treat injuries, the investigators noticed.
The chimpanzees were seen taking care of wounds with chewed leaves and licking the injuries, pressing with your fingers. They also help other group members-even without kinship ties-to heal or clean.
They were also seen to remove traps attached to the body, which demonstrates consciousness and cooperation.
These behaviors indicate that, in addition to knowing how to take care of themselves, chimpanzees can act with empathy e solidarity. The plants used in treatments have known medicinal properties, so the authors believe that these primates resort instinctively to nature as an ally in healing – a habit similar to the one already observed in orangutanks.
According to scientists at Oxford University, this type of health care, both individual and among group members, can have deep roots in our evolutionary history. Research challenges the idea that only humans have complex behaviors related to the hygiene and well-being of others.
Thus, we can consider that chimpanzees have advanced social and cognitive abilities, which brings us even closer to them and shows that taking care of others is a much older instinct than we thought.
