Elephants travel long distances for self-healing plants

UPDATE - follow-up to After great apes, scientists find African elephants self-medicate too: Wild animals show intuitive medical knowledge by seeking out specific natural remedies. Elephants travel long distances directly to particular trees without stopping to forage on the way, with the single-minded mission of eating the bark or leaves.

Animal Healing Habits

Researchers call this behavior zoopharmacognosy. Animals use these natural resources to treat various health issues like worm problems, breathing troubles, fungal infections, cuts, and stomach upsets.

Other Species

Different animals use similar natural treatments. Orangutans put plant paste on their wounds, and chimpanzees eat bitter leaves that fight bacteria. Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins line up to rub against specific corals, and birds put bug-killing plants in their nests to stop mites that cause anemia. Most of these remedies come from plants like leaves, bark, and resin, but animals also use clay, charcoal, and insects.

Context

Self-medication in the wild shows that medical knowledge is not exclusive to humans. Observing these survival habits helps scientists understand how animals manage health issues in their natural homes without human care.