Elephants were found to travel long distances to get to a particular tree without foraging on the way. Their single-minded mission was to consume the bark or leaves.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Wild animals have for long been known for their intuitive pharmacological knowledge: orangutans balm their wounds with plants; chimpanzees consume bitter antibacterial leaves; Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins queue up to rub against selected corals; and birds smear their nests with insecticidal plants to fend off anaemia-causing mites.
Scientists term this behaviour zoopharmacognosy, where animals seek out plants to treat endoparasite infestations, respiratory and fungal infections, wounds, and gastrointestinal problems. While most of these medicinal resources are plant-based, for example barks and leaves and resin, animals also treat themselves with charcoal, clay and insects.
Published – October 01, 2026 09:15 am IST
