Orangutan Breakthrough – Rakus Heals Brutal Fight Wounds With Leaf Treatment Used by Humans, Revealing Unexpected Species Link

You might not know the name Rakus yet, but by the end of this article, you definitely will. In 2022, this wild orangutan from the dense rainforests of Sumatra did something that left scientists speechless—he treated his own wound using a plant as medicine. This isn’t just an animal story. It’s a major discovery that could shift how we know the intelligence of animals and their connection to natural healing.

Let’s take a closer look at the orangutan that just changed the game.

Rakus

Rakus is a 30-year-old male orangutan living in Gunung Leuser National Park in Indonesia. In the summer of 2022, researchers heard loud fighting high in the treetops—pretty normal for male orangutans. But what happened next was anything but ordinary.

The next day, scientists spotted Rakus with a nasty wound under his right eye and inside his mouth. But instead of just resting and waiting for it to heal like most animals would, Rakus made a bold move.

Medicine

Rakus began chewing leaves from a plant called liana. Here’s the twist: orangutans don’t usually eat this plant. It’s not part of their regular diet. But here’s the kicker—humans already know this plant as a natural painkiller.

He chewed it into a green paste and carefully applied it to his wound, like he was using a healing cream. He did this multiple times over several days, clearly knowing what he was doing. This was the first time in history that scientists had ever seen an animal apply a medicinal plant to a wound in such a direct and intentional way.

Healing

So, did it work? Absolutely. Rakus’ wound healed rapidly—within just a week—and showed no signs of infection. The plant likely helped reduce pain, inflammation, and prevented complications. Scientists were blown away, not just by the healing itself, but by Rakus’ ability to identify a plant and use it properly.

This wasn’t random behavior. It was problem-solving. It was intelligence.

Smarts

Orangutans are already known for being incredibly smart. They share 97% of our DNA and can recognize more than 400 different plants in their environment. They know which fruits are edible, when they’re ripe, and even how to prepare them.

They use tools, learn by watching their mothers, and solve complex challenges in the wild. Rakus showed just how advanced their thinking can be. Figuring out that liana could help his wound—and then applying it—isn’t luck. It’s knowledge. It’s experience. It’s rainforest wisdom in action.

Nature

You may be wondering: do other animals do this too? Yes. This behavior has a name—zoopharmacognosy. It refers to how animals self-medicate using natural substances.

Some examples include:

• Chimpanzees eating bitter plants when they’re sick to kill parasites
• Other orangutans rubbing plant extracts on their joints to ease pain
• Insects using resins to protect themselves from diseases

So maybe humans weren’t the first to discover herbal medicine. It’s possible our ancestors learned from watching animals like Rakus.

Significance

Rakus’ behavior is more than just a cool discovery. It matters—here’s why:

• It proves orangutans are even more intelligent than we thought, capable of identifying, preparing, and using medicinal plants.
• It connects us with our past. If Rakus can do this today, maybe early humans learned from similar observations.
• It shows why protecting orangutans is critical. Fewer than 14,000 Sumatran orangutans remain in the wild. Their rainforest homes are being destroyed by logging and climate change.

Saving orangutans isn’t just about wildlife conservation—it’s about preserving knowledge, behavior, and a living link to our own evolution.

Rakus has given us a glimpse into something ancient, beautiful, and deeply connected to who we are as a species. It’s a reminder that nature still holds secrets—and that sometimes, animals know far more than we give them credit for.

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