Chimpanzees have invented a first-aid system using crushed insects
In short: When humans get hurt, we reach for bandages and antiseptics. But in the jungles of Gabon, chimpanzees have developed a different medical strategy. They are catching winged insects and applying them to open wounds—not just on themselves, but on their friends as well.
In 2019, researchers with the Ozouga Chimpanzee Project first observed this unique behavior in Loango National Park, Gabon. While volunteering, Alessandra Mascaro observed Suzee, a female chimpanzee, caring for her teenage offspring Sia, whose foot was injured. Rather than ignoring the injury, Suzee caught winged insects and applied them to his wound. Over a 15-month period, scientists cataloged 76 distinct instances of this behavior within a community of approximately 45 chimpanzees.
This discovery is significant because it represents one of the first recorded instances of an animal using other animal matter—specifically 'smooshed' insects—as a form of medication. While various species like bears, elephants, and lemurs are known to use plants for self-medication against parasites, the use of insects as an antiseptic marks a novel cognitive leap in primate behavior. The study, led by Simone Pika and Tobias Deschner of Osnabrück University, suggests these insects may serve as a primitive form of medicine.
The most striking aspect of this behavior is its social dimension. Because chimpanzees are seen applying these insects to the wounds of others, researchers suggest it may be a display of empathy or altruism. While our closest relatives, bonobos and chimpanzees, already consume plants with antiparasitic properties to treat internal parasites, this external application of insect matter provides a new window into how complex social relationships and cognitive skills influence survival strategies in the wild.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: These Chimps Treat Each Other’s Wounds... with Bugs
- Also: Chimpanzees Appear to Use Insects to Treat Their Wounds
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