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Wild orangutans treat pain with natural anti-inflammatory

Tue, 2008-07-29 12:35 — ABN

# 28 July 2008
# NewScientist.com news service
# Matt Walker

Wild orangutans have been spotted using naturally occurring anti-inflammatory drugs.

Four individuals have been seen rubbing a soothing balm onto their limbs, the first known examples of orangutans self medicating. Great apes have never before been seen using drugs in this way. Remarkably though, local people use the same balm, administering it in a similar way to treat aches and pains.

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Comments

Tue, 2008-07-29 19:30 — redapes

orangutans

As you can see from this article, orangutans are truly special beings. Unfortunately, they are being pushed to the brink of extinction in the wild as palm oil plantations replace their forest habitat in Borneo and Sumatra. Orangutans need our protection. If you want to learn more about them and see what you can do to help them, please visit the Orangutan Outreach website: http://redapes.org

Thank you for your time,

Richard Zimmerman
Director, Orangutan Outreach
Reach out and save the orangutans!