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FACTOID!!
The male Emperor penguin must incubate the female egg for more than 2 months at temperatures around -40 degees C (-40 degees F) during winter darkness in the Antarctic.


Apes practise self-healing


Apes practise self-healing
Scientists studying great apes have discovered lots of evidence of "zoopharmacognosy," or animal self-healing. Chimpanzees regularly swallow whole leaves to get rid of stomach parasites, and eat noxious plants to cue constipation. Orangutans eat flowers to cure headaches and gorillas eat bark that contains antibiotics to kill bacteria and other bugs. Although most of the evidence of self-healing is anecdotal, it may lead to the discovery of new medicines in the forests. Scientists also believe that the apes' methods of self-healing may show us better ways to manage our own diseases and parasites. Ape therapies are holistic and 'multi-pronged' and so would not lead to drug resistance.
DECEMBER 14, 2000
Vancouver Sun
DECEMBER 14, 2000

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