Chimpanzees in the Wild Displaying First Aid Behaviors
Recent observations in the forests of Africa have revealed fascinating behaviors among chimpanzees that resemble first aid practices. Primatologists are now beginning to document and study these behaviors in more detail.
Reports suggest that certain chimp communities engage in activities such as rubbing insects, leaves, or chewed materials on the wounds of their fellow chimps. They also exhibit behaviors like licking wounds and sucking cuts, indicating a form of wound care and potential first aid.
While the effectiveness of these practices in healing injuries or preventing infections is still uncertain, researchers believe that this type of wound care may be a valuable strategy utilized by more primates than previously thought.
Primatologist Elodie Freymann from the University of Oxford emphasizes the importance of documenting how chimpanzees identify and use medicinal plants, as well as provide care to others. This insight could offer valuable information on the cognitive and social foundations of human healthcare behavior.
Researchers have long observed chimpanzees engaging in behaviors like swallowing, chewing, or applying plant matter to their bodies. Some of these plant species possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, or pain-relieving properties, leading scientists to interpret these actions as self-directed medicinal care.
In 2019, a groundbreaking discovery was made in Gabon, where researchers witnessed chimpanzees engaging in what appeared to be first aid practices. The chimps in this community were seen treating each other’s wounds by rubbing insects on them, potentially utilizing insects with antiseptic properties.
Instances of ‘prosocial wound care’ among chimps in the wild are rare, with only a few cases reported in scientific literature since 1986. However, a recent study conducted in Uganda’s Budongo Forest between 1993 and 2024 identified seven cases of chimpanzees caring for the wounds of others through what researchers describe as “medicinal hygiene behaviors.”
Freymann and her team believe that these behaviors shed light on the evolutionary origins of human medicine and healthcare systems. The observations of chimps grooming, licking, or applying plant materials to wounds, as well as attempting to remove snares from other chimps, suggest a recognition of need or suffering in others.
Based on their findings, researchers argue that prosocial healthcare practices may be more widespread across chimpanzee populations than previously recognized. They call for further research on how these primates utilize medicinal plants for self-care and caring for others.
The study detailing these fascinating behaviors was published in Frontiers.
