A recent study involving researchers from Rutgers University, United States, revealed that orangutans in Kalimantan have extraordinary survival strategies in the rainforest by adjusting food availability and activity levels, thereby avoiding obesity and metabolic diseases.
Commenting on the self-medicating behavior of orangutans, Professor Wisnu Nurcahyo from the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKH UGM), said that decades of research on orangutans have provided him with invaluable knowledge not only about wildlife conservation but also about human health.
According to Professor Nurcahyo, orangutans are known to independently find plants or fruits in the forest with healing effects when they fall ill.
“These medicines come from nature and can be used to treat symptoms of illness. This is also relevant for communities living near orangutan habitats, many of whom consume herbal medicines inspired by the skills of orangutans. Indonesia is immensely rich in plant biodiversity that can be harnessed for health purposes,” he said on Tuesday, Sep. 16, 2025.
Beyond medicinal plants, Professor Nurcahyo added that orangutans’ lifestyles also provide important inspiration for humans.
In a single day, orangutans actively move across an average home range of around 5 square kilometers.
This dynamic activity, combined with a natural diet free from preservatives or chemicals, keeps them healthy and fit.
“It is similar to how humans will be healthier and stronger if they exercise daily and maintain a healthy diet,” he explained.
Professor Nurcahyo acknowledged that research on orangutans in Indonesia remains limited because it does not produce immediate marketable products.
However, he emphasized that such studies are crucial to preserving orangutans as part of the nation’s biodiversity.
“Orangutans must be conserved by protecting their habitats, refraining from trade, and avoiding exploitation for entertainment. Interestingly, many scientists in Europe and America study these wildlife lifestyles and adopt the ‘back to nature’ approach, living healthily, free from pollution, consuming natural foods, and utilizing herbal plants for treatment,” he concluded.
Author: Kezia Dwina Nathania
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photograph: Mongabay Indonesia