WATCH: Orangutan makes history self-treating open wound using medicinal plant

Friedman reports that a team of scientists who are following a male Sumatran orangutan - who they have named Rakus - in a protected rainforest in Indonesia that is home to 150 Sumatran orangutans, has made history by healing his open wound.

The scientists says they noticed that Rakus sustained an injury below his eye, leaving it raw and open.

Rakus found a way to heal his open wound, naturally, by chewing and extracting the juices of leaves and putting it on his open wound.

Five days later, the wound was closed and a month later, it healed completely.

In addition to Rakus' self-treatment, he also started sleeping more which helps heal open wounds as cells regenerate while sleeping, says the scientists observing him.

The scientists later identified the leaves as 'Akar Kuning' which is known for its natural healing properties, pain relieving and anti-inflammatory effects, and is often used in traditional medicine to treat diseases such as dysentery, diabetes and malaria.

Scientists said that this is the first time a wild animal has been observed using a plant with known medicinal properties to treat wounds.

But what was less clear to the team was how the primate came to know of Akar Kuning's healing properties - was it instinctive just like humans back before the time of science knew how to sustain and heal themselves with plants and nature?

The team said its findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports, could help shed light on how the knowledge of wound medications evolved in humans.

Watch Rakus' healing journey @BreakingScienceNews published to YouTube, below.