Zoopharmacognosy has become a topic of interest with significant implications for human medicine and animal care. Reports of several anecdotal observations and research experiments related to animal health in the wild, in captivity and on domestication are being increasingly reported in the literature. These are revealing natural ways of handling health and disease, so far…
Recent reports on animal self medication strategies have created a lot of interest and scientists assert that understanding the process has significant implications for humans. While initially it was viewed as a potential source for newer drugs, today it is a rapidly expanding subject relating to animal, environmental and human health care needs. Hence, it…
South American maned wolf ( Chrysocyon brachyurus) is omnivorous and feeds on lobeira fruit ( Solanum lycocarpum), which constitutes 30–50% of its diet. Native to Brazil, the plant is found throughout the wolf”s habitat. The wolves are susceptible to cystinutira, a condition where there is inability of the kidneys to absorb amino acid cystine. As a result,…
Consumption of soil, powdered rock, termite-mound-earth, clay and mud is a common feeding behaviour in many animals. Also called “Geophagy”, several herbivorous, omnivorous mammals, birds, reptiles and insects are known to indulge in it. It appears to be more common in herbivores, especially in the tropics. Animals and birds seem to take to soil eating…
Several animals adapt a variety of strategies for skin health and to deal with skin-borne parasites. Many mammals topically apply leaves, arthropods or other aromatic materials to their skin. Capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus) are known to rub their fur with several species of citrus fruits, leaves and stems of Piper marginatum and Clemetis dioica (Ranunculaceae). Such “fur rubbing” is…
About 50 species of birds are known to include fresh plant material inside their nests and roosting environment. Increasing evidence indicates that heavy infestation of nests by ectoparasites affects survivor ship and fecundity of breeding adult birds. When ectoparasite build up is high, sea birds and swallows abandon breeding colonies. Certain birds characteristically place green plant…
In 1987, in the beginning of rainy season, Hufmann and Mohamedi Seifu Kalunde—game officer, Mahale Mountain National Park observed a sick non-feeding female chimpanzee self-medicating. It selected a small shrub— Vernonia amygdalina(called goat killer for its extremely poisonous bitter leaf) bent down several shoots, carefully stripped off the outer layers and began sucking and chewing on…
At Gombe National Park and Mahale Mountains National Park in Western Tanzania, Chimpanzees were observed to follow a seemingly puzzling feeding behavior. Within an hour of leaving their sleeping nests, before their first big meal, these animals carefully and slowly selected leaves of specific plants such as Aspilia rudis, A. pluriseta or A. mossambicensis before swallowing them. What was puzzling…
The first modern observation of self-medication in non-human vertebrates was put forth by Daniel H Janzen, an ecologist at the University of Pennsylvania. Jane Goodall—a British Primatologist, Ethologist and Anthropologist, Eloy Rodriguez—a biochemist and Professor at Cornell University, Richard Wrangham, a Harvard University Primatologist, World Wildlife Fund Scientist Holly Dublin, Michael Huffmann and Toshisada Nishida—Primatologists of…
A domestic animal has been artificially selected by humans for certain characteristics such as temperament or appearance. Since they have been bred for characteristics attractive or useful to humans, they are very different from wild animals. Our extensive experience with domestication of animals is bringing up many aspects which seem to better our understanding of…