An ailing elephant is seen consuming the bark of a tree commonly utilized in traditional remedies. A maternal elephant incorporates a plant with recognized medicinal qualities into her milk, which she then feeds to her offspring.
These anecdotes have been collected by researchers from indigenous wildlife observers and local residents concerning African elephants in Kenya’s Mount Elgon area.
“At this juncture, I’m no longer taken aback,” remarked Elodie Freymann, an expert in animal self-medication, during a conversation with As It Happens guest host Helen Mann.
“Given the intellect and intricacy of elephants and their social structures, it was only a matter of time before we delved into the extensive array of medicinal plants being utilized by elephants in the wilderness.”
Freymann is a co-author of a recent study published in the journal Nature that leverages local insights to document numerous medicinal plants employed by elephants in Mount Elgon.
The researchers assert that this study contributes to the mounting evidence supporting elephants as sophisticated and intelligent beings, emphasizing the necessity to safeguard the biodiversity crucial to their survival.
Nevertheless, scientists underscore the need for further investigation to conclusively determine whether elephants are engaging in self-medication.
Utilizing Indigenous Knowledge
The research findings stem from interviews with eight members of the Sabaot community who have interacted with the elephants for many years, including wildlife monitors, community guides, and elders.
In certain instances, these individuals recount elephants that appear feeble, sluggish, or suffering from stomach ailments seeking out specific plants commonly used in local healing practices. In other accounts, they depict mother elephants administering recognized medicinal plants to their offspring.
Out of the 35 plants mentioned in the interviews, 34 are commonly used in local traditional medicine. Eight out of the nine most frequently cited plants have established pharmacological properties documented in scientific literature.
“We tapped into the primary source, consulting individuals who have coexisted with these elephant populations for numerous decades,” stated Freymann, a post-doctoral researcher at Brown University in Rhode Island.
“For an extensive period, Western science has not adequately highlighted these local perspectives, and it is high time we give them due recognition.”
Further Evidence Required
Chase LaDue, an elephant ecologist unaffiliated with the research, lauded the study as a promising starting point for future investigations but cautioned that it does not definitively establish elephants’ intentional use of medication for themselves or their young.
“There is no health data indicating that any of these elephants were actually unwell, and there was no assessment of whether consuming these plants had any effect,” noted LaDue, a curator at the Oklahoma City Zoo and the executive
