✉news ScienceScience first seen 9 h ago, last 1 h ago, peak #27
Wild African Elephants Found To Self-Medicate And Feed Calves
Original: Wild African Elephants Found To Self-Medicate And Feed Their Calves Immunization Smoothies
Wild African elephants have been found to self-medicate, deliberately consuming plants with medicinal properties and even preparing what researchers describe as 'immunization smoothies' for their calves. The behavior suggests mothers may pass on knowledge of medicinal plants to boost their young's immune systems, adding to growing evidence that elephants possess sophisticated cultural knowledge about their environment and health care practices.
Why now: New research revealing sophisticated self-medication behavior in wild elephants challenges assumptions about animal intelligence and has captured public fascination.
Evidence
- Wild African Elephants Found To Self-Medicate And Feed Their Calves Immunization Smoothies · IFLScience
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