BriefTea
Every story in sixty words
Get the free app no ads · no paywallExplained in plain English
This story highlights a fascinating aspect of animal behaviour: self-medication, also known as zoopharmacognosy. African elephants in Kenya's Mount Elgon region have been observed using 35 different plant species, many of which are known locally for their medicinal properties. This suggests a sophisticated understanding of their environment and the healing power of plants.
Stories that explain this
This animal uses 35 plants for medicine, researchers sayRelated explainers
How do elephants learn? Who are the local people? Where is Mount Elgon? Why use animal population models? What about farm animals? What is AI in medicine? How do animals adapt? Can animals get cancer?The full catalogue
Browse every card filed under A →We would like to count visits and see which links bring readers here. That means storing a random ID in your browser. No cookies, no ads, no profile. How it works.