This observation could provide important clues to the behavioral diversity of chimpanzees, their cognition and the origins of human healing practices.
In the journal "Nature Springer Reports", Prof. Simone Pika, Dr. Kayla Kolff and Alessandra Mascaro from Osnabrück University together with Daniela Acosta Flórez from Yale University report on the fascinating behavior of wild East African chimpanzees in Kibale National Park (Uganda).
Until now, such behavior had only been observed in a single chimpanzee community in Central Africa. However, between November 2021 and July 2022, the scientists were also able to observe six animals in Uganda applying flying insects to open wounds, both on themselves and on conspecifics. "The results suggest that the use of insects is much more widespread than previously assumed," says Dr. Kayla Kolff from Osnabrück University and lead author of the study.
The researchers have formulated three hypotheses that will now be tested in further studies: Do the chimpanzees specifically choose certain insect species with potentially healing substances? Is the behavior culturally transmitted and learned? And is it based not only on self-care but also on an understanding of helping others and alleviating their pain?
Regardless of whether the insects actually have medicinal properties, the observations provide valuable insights into the behavioral plasticity and cognition of chimpanzees as well as the evolution of healing behavior. The combination of self-medication and potential care for conspecifics could be a precursor to human wound care practices.
"In the 1980s, it was observations on chimpanzees that established the field of animal self-medication, and now it is once again moving to the center of the discussion about medical and cognitive abilities as well as cultural traditions in the animal kingdom - thus opening up a new exciting field of research that builds important bridges to the history of human medicine," says Prof. Simone Pika, head of the Comparative Cognitive Biology research group at Osnabrück University.
Further information for the media:
Dr. Kayla Kolff, Osnabrück University
Institute of Cognitive Science
E-mail: kkolff@uni-osnabrueck.de
