Intelligent Chimpanzees Perform “First Aid” On Each Other

On May 14, 2025, researchers in the Budongo Forest, Uganda, discovered chimpanzees performing “first aid” on other chimpanzees. These chimps perform “first aid” to heal wounds and injuries that they have. The studies showed that chimpanzees may be able to think about how to help themselves and others.

Because chimps are closely related to humans, scientists and researchers have been curious about how they care for their injuries and wounds. Some ways chimpanzees can care for themselves and others include licking wounds and cleaning themselves with leaves. Licking themself can help remove bacteria or things that will make wounds hard to heal. Chimps also perform more complicated “self-care” such as chewing a leaf and applying it to an open wound or injury.

Dr. Elodie Freymann traveled to Budongo Forest in Uganda to study and research more about how the chimps care for themselves. Before studying about chimp first aid, Dr. Freymann had already investigated chimpanzees eating plants that act as medicine. Dr. Freymann and her team studied in Uganda for about 8 months in the Budongo Forest. In total, Dr. Freymann and her team have discovered 34 different ways chimps cared for their wounds, including licking wounds and cleaning wounds with leaves.

These important studies of chimpanzees caring for themselves showed that they do, in fact, treat their own wounds and injuries. Studies have also shown that these chimps don’t just care for themselves, but also help treat unrelated and related chimpanzees.