Four years ago #CNN released a photo taken by the photographer Anil Prabhakar in the forest in Indonesia.
This image shows an #orangutan, currently under threat of extinction, while stretching out his hand to help a geologist who fell into a mud pool during his search.
When the photographer uploaded the photo, he wrote this as a caption:
“In a time when the concept of humanity dies, #animals lead us to the principles of humanity.”
We know that great apes are super-smart, but, even so, wow: Wounded wild orangutan Rakus "repeatedly applied the liquid onto his cheek for seven minutes. Rakus then smeared the chewed leaves onto his wound until it was fully covered. He continued to feed on the plant for over 30 minutes... researchers saw no sign of infection and the wound closed within five days." https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-68942123#primates#orangutan#animals#animalcognition#anthropology#zoology
Report on self-medication by an injured male Sumatran #orangutan.
'The team then saw Rakus chewing the stem and leaves of plant called Akar Kuning - an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial plant that is also used locally to treat malaria and diabetes.
'He repeatedly applied the liquid onto his cheek for seven minutes. Rakus then smeared the chewed leaves onto his wound until it was fully covered. He continued to feed on the plant for over 30 minutes'
Meet Kalijon the Bornean Orangutan originally photographed at the Kansas City Zoo. I love his sweet eyes peering out at me, I just couldn't resist capturing this precious creature.