By Serge K. Soiret, GAP correspondent in West Africa, from Ivory Coast 

We have observed remarkable behaviors among chimpanzees. We know that in nature, chimpanzees use some plants for health treatment (they also often use the same plants as human healers). For example, in Ivory Cost, at Taï National Park, an ill chimpanzee was observed early in the morning as soon as the descent of nest eating leaves of Manniophyton fulvum. Some time later, we found many worms in his dropping.

Manniophyton Fulvum, from Euphorbiaceae’s family, is a Liana which is very Hairy and provides fiber. In villages around the park, people use leaves of Manniophyton fulvum as a powerful antibiotic to treat patient which are suffering from tuberculosis and parasitic infections, it rid the body of impurities. The leaves are chewed then juice swallowed or leaves are crushed and juice collected is used to make enemas. That treatment is unadvised to children for the risk of hepatitis. Fibers supplied by the bark of this plant are used in the manufacture of fishing nets.