Perilaku zoofarmakognosis orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus Wurmbii) di Taman Nasional Sebangau, Kalimantan Tengah Indonesia

Abstract

Zoopharmacognocy is the ability of animals to perform self medication. This capability is perform by utilizing the plant secondary metabolite and/or component of the non-nutritional. It is suspected that this behavior is a long-term observation of Orangutans' behavior (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii), by communities surround Sebangau National Park (SNP). to be practiced as ethnomedication. The treatment can be either prophylactic or therapeutic. Nowadays many developing herbal treatment methods, but not yet much excavated empirical about the claims. This study aims to study the ability of Orangutans to self-medicate in Sebangau ecosystem area.The research was conducted in Punggualas, SNP,  29 April to 03 October  2017. Observation method followed the Orangutan protocol, with focus of observation on feeding behavior.  Target plants were collected, identified and documented, while the behavior of orangutans was recorded based on the Orangutans' observation protocol,  on which focal activities were recorded every 2 minutes, including their social behavior.  The obervations will be terminated, if during follow, focal get outward the study grid. All  data  were analyzed descriptively.There were three focal orangutans been followed, consisting of two dominant male, namely Eboy and Sander, and an individual female and infant. Both Sander and Eboy, each were only followed once, while the unnamed mother and infant, were followed four times. The results revealed hat two male individuals, did not show signs of zoofaramkognosi behavior, their feeding activity restricted on the Orangutan food list. Meanwhile, the mother, indicate the sign of zoopharmacognocy. It is characterized by selectively choosing young leaves of Karipak (Mezzetia sp.),  pulp of the Pantung (Dyera lowii) and Kamasira (Ilex cymosa), the last to chew the entire Leaf Handipe leaves. This was conducted repeatedly for several times, and consistent before embark nest areas.  Allegedly, this is a preventive measure against fatigue conditions, and the combination of these three plant species is assumed to be related to stamina. The study urged to isolated the secondary metabolites for further investigation, especially in term  of phyto-pharmacy.