Overview

• Researchers observed 41 healthcare cases in two chimpanzee communities, including 34 self-care and 7 prosocial instances where chimps helped others, even unrelated individuals.
• Chimpanzees used techniques like wound licking, leaf-dabbing, and applying chewed medicinal plants known for antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
• The study highlights hygiene behaviors like using leaves for cleaning genitals after mating and wiping after defecation, reducing infection risks.
• High injury rates, with 40% of Sonso chimpanzees affected by snares, may drive the development of these healthcare behaviors, though further research is needed.
• These findings deepen understanding of the evolutionary origins of medicine and empathy, suggesting early roots of human healthcare systems in primate behavior.