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Published online 10 January 2008 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2008.427
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Why do chimps eat dirt?
Apes might eat soil to activate anti-malarial plants.
Chimpanzees in Uganda have been spotted eating dirt along with fistfuls of leaves. This might help to increase the plants' anti-malarial properties, say researchers.
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Hi, Chimpanzees in Uganda have been spotted eating dirt. This not surprising the amount of dirt humans eat outbalances such observations. The subtle difference is the Chimp knows it easing dirt. Regards Dr. Terence Hale
Very interesting research indeed. Many, if not most, primate species eat soil, the frequency varying from site to site. While there are a number of hypotheses out there for why they do so, it seems that there are likely to be many different reasons, varying from individual to individual and from site to site as a function of the selective pressures on the health of the individual (group). The observations provided here by Dr. Krief and colleagues add an entirely new dimension to this line of research. It is both fascinating and challenging to take the step and demonstrate that indeed chimpanzees suffering from malaria are doing this and getting relief. I encourage all to read the scientific report, it is a nice piece of work and a model for how things need to be done as a first step toward understanding the role of geophagy in the self-medicative strategies of animals.