Observations on the illness and consumption of a possibly medicinal plantVernonia amygdalina (Del.), by a wild chimpanzee in the Mahale Mountains National Park,Tanzania |
| |
Authors: | Michael A Huffman Mohamedi Seifu |
| |
Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Human Eyolution Studies, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, 606 Kyoto, Japan;(2) Mahale Mountains wildlife Research Centre, P. O. Box 1503, Kigoma, Tanzania |
| |
Abstract: | Detailed observations on the consumption ofVernonia amygdalina (Del.), a naturally occurring plant of known ethnomedicinal value, by an adult female chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) of M-group in the Mahale Mountains, Tanzania were made. Chewing the pith of several shoots, she sucked out and swallowed
the astringent, bitter tasting juice; spitting out the fibrous remains. The female was followed during this period for 11
hr, over two consecutive days, and was recognized to be in irregular health at the time of consumption, exhibiting signs of
lethargy, lack of appetite, and irregularity of bodily excretions. The low frequency and lack of seasonality in the usage
of this plant suggest that it is sought after for reasons other than as a food source. These factors suggest that for chimpanzees,
the consumption of this plant is primarily medicinal. The symptoms displayed by the female are the same as those experienced
by people throughout tropical Africa who utilize this plant as a medicinal treatment for them. Interactions between the female
and others suggest that they too were aware of her condition and coordinated their activities with the female and her infant. |
| |
Keywords: | Chimpanzees Vernonia amygdalina Medicine |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|