Research led by Dr. Elodie Freymann from the University of Oxford, published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, focused on two chimpanzee communities - Sonso and Waibira. Researchers tracked the primates over several months, noting that approximately 40% of individuals in Sonso bear snare-related injuries. During their study, the team observed 41 instances of wound care, including 34 cases of self-care and seven cases of care directed at others.
Chimpanzees employed a variety of methods to treat injuries, including licking wounds to remove debris, leaf-dabbing, and applying chewed plant material directly to cuts. "All chimpanzees mentioned in our tables showed recovery from wounds, though of course we don't know what the outcome would have been had they not done anything about their injuries," said Freymann. Hygiene behaviors, such as using leaves to clean genitals after mating and wipe the anus after defecation, were also recorded, potentially reducing infection risks.
The study also revealed that chimpanzees in Budongo care for genetically unrelated individuals, suggesting an awareness of need and suffering in others. Of the seven prosocial care cases, four involved wound treatment, two were for snare removal, and one involved hygiene assistance. The more habituated Sonso group demonstrated a higher frequency of such behaviors, which researchers attribute partly to increased observation opportunities.
The researchers emphasized that while this study provides valuable insights, further pharmacological analysis is needed to confirm the medicinal properties of the plants used. They also noted the challenge of identifying broader patterns in prosocial healthcare due to its relative rarity and the difficulty of observing such behaviors consistently.
Research Report:Self-Directed and Prosocial Wound Care, Snare Removal, and Hygiene Behaviors Amongst the Budongo Chimpanzees
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