Wild Orangutans concoct plant-based soothing balm

[Ichingcarpenter]

Indonesian wild orangutans have demonstrated a certain degree of medicinal savvy by deploying naturally-occuring anti-inflammatory drugs to "treat aches and pains", as the New Scientist puts it.

Four of the Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) were spotted by Cambridge University primatologist Helen Morrogh-Bernard in the Sabangau Peat Swamp Forest in Central Kalimantan preparing a "soothing balm".
Back in 2005, Morrogh-Bernard watched as an adult female picked a handful of leaves from a plant, chewed them, and used saliva to produce a green-white lather. She then "scooped up some of the lather with her right hand and applied it up and down the back of her left arm, from the base of the shoulder to the wrist, just as a person would apply sunscreen".

Morrogh-Bernard noted: "She was concentrating on her arm only and was methodical in the way she was applying the soapy foam. I knew this must be some form of self-medication."

The orangutan finally ditched the leaves, which allowed Morrogh-Bernard to identify them as belonging to the genus Commelina. Significantly, orangutans don't eat these plants as part of their normal diet, and local indigenous people are also aware of their anti-inflammatory properties.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/28/orangutan_balm/

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Wonder what the conservative evangelicals would make of that

[Hydra]

3. We had the same thought

And my guess their answer would be "Cut funding to researchers!"

[Hydra]

2. And the Fundies take yet another hit

"We are the chosen ones!" Hmm, it would seem the evidence disagrees with you.

[PDJane]

4. That's neat information......

thank you.

[Submariner]

5. They're smarter than generally thought

I'm afraid someone will develop a technology that translates the songs of the whales, or growling of wolves, or any sound that any animal makes, and we find out that they think were a bunch of assholes that should be extincted for their own welfare. :scared:

[Indenturedebtor]

6. Duplicate though different article

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=228x42388

From yesterday.