Wild Chimpanzees Always Give Themselves First Aid

Wild chimpanzees Always give first aid to each other Several others resembled first aid applied after attacks by other chimps, or being caught in human-laid snare

Concern for other apes’ well-being “offers evidence that some of the foundations of human medicine — recognizing suffering,

applying treatments and caring for others — are not uniquely human, but part of our deep evolutionary heritage
colleagues report May 14 in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.

Some were hygienic acts, like wiping with leaves after bowel movements or mating.

Several others resembled first aid applied after attacks by other chimps, or being caught in human-laid snares. Licking wounds .

dabbing them with leaves were the most observed acts of self-care. Some saliva and plants contain antimicrobial compounds that might prevent infection, the researchers say.

In seven other instances, a chimp helped another chimp. And the helping hand wasn’t extended just to kin but also to unrelated individuals in need.

In one extraordinary display, a male freed an unrelated female from a snare set for game, probably saving her life

. Snares frequently entangle chimp and elsewhere in Africa, and it’s well-documented that the apes help free each other.

sensitivity in two young unrelated males — one pressing his lips to and licking the other’s wound
— behavior that wasn’t without risk.

I thought, wow, that’s potentially dangerous for them, that’s potentially exposing him to pathogens or contagious diseases,
But he’s doing it anyway. You see camaraderie

maybe they will one day be rivals, and they’re literally licking each other’s wounds

a chimp named Kirabo put chewed-up bark on his wounded knee, while a youngster looked on attentively.

It was “an indication that the chimp is trying to socially learn something says. She also found an incident recorded

chimps sometimes know how to help others get out of snares, for example, why aren’t they helping all chimps get out

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World Travel News, Gorilla Trekking Uganda and Gorilla Trekking Rwanda