Researchers report that Mount Elgon's cave elephants in Kenya use medicinal plants for their young: mothers were seen chewing roots and leaves and mixing them with breast milk. The team believes the herds use at least 35 plant species.
The Nature paper, led by Dr Fabien Schultz, calls this the first documented case of a nonhuman animal preparing and administering medicine to its young. Its account draws on reports from local scouts, park rangers and community elders; researchers say these suggest the elephants may seek out the plants intentionally.
The researchers also identify four types of soil, minerals or clay in the elephants' health regime. Many of the plants are used in Indigenous traditional medicine and have documented antibacterial, anti-inflammatory or antiparasitic properties; laboratory tests are under way to determine their exact effects.
