Elephants seek remedies: traditional knowledge reveals self-medication
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In Kenya’s Mount Elgon region, local experts report that African elephants intentionally seek out specific plants and soils when they appear unwell, and mothers may even provide these resources to their calves.
Researchers from the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine collaborated with local communities and wildlife experts to document this behavior through detailed interviews.
Eight knowledgeable individuals, including wildlife scouts and community elders with decades of experience, described 39 natural resources that elephants use, many of which also feature in traditional human medicine. The study focused on gathering observational data rather than directly studying the elephants to minimize disturbance. Experts shared instances of elephants traveling considerable distances to consume particular plants, specifically targeting bark or leaves, and described behaviors suggesting a deliberate attempt to treat ailments.
Researchers categorized these observations using a framework for animal self-medication, identifying eight plant species, like Aloe arborescens, where the evidence was particularly strong. The findings highlight a shared ecological knowledge between humans and elephants, with 87% of the resources elephants use also being utilized in local traditional medicine. Scientists are now seeking video evidence of maternal elephants providing plant material to their young, and plan to investigate how these behaviors are learned and passed down through generations.
The researchers emphasize that protecting these plants and habitats is crucial for both elephant and human health, as it preserves a vital natural "pharmacy."
