Chimpanzees use forest medicine

Chimps use forest as pharmacy

Chimpanzees in Uganda use some plants as medicine. They can look after themselves. They sometimes help others too.

Scientists studied 51 chimpanzees in the Budongo Forest. Local scientists worked with a team from Oxford University.

The scientists filmed the chimpanzees. The chimpanzees used plants on their bodies. Sometimes, they chewed the plant in their mouth. Then, they put the plants on the area with a problem.

Animals using plants isn't a new idea. Stories about chimpanzees first came out in the 1990s. But scientists needed to find out more.

The scientists were like detectives. They had to find lots of different information.

Did the chimpanzees choose the plants? Did they know the plants could help?

The team tested the plants. 88 percent of the plants helped the chimpanzees. They were often antibacterial.

Dr Elodie Freyman works for Oxford University. She thinks that chimpanzees are important. They can teach us a lot about nature.