African elephants living in the Mount Elgon region of Kenya have been observed using a variety of medicinal plants to treat themselves and their young, according to a recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports. This research, based on interviews with local people, highlights the elephants' ability to select and use specific plant species for health purposes. These elephants, known as salt-mining elephants, are famous for their unique behavior of extracting minerals from caves, but the study reveals they also engage in self-medication practices. The research, conducted in partnership with the Mount Elgon Foundation, involved local wildlife scouts and community elders who shared their observations. The elephants were found to use 35 different plant species, with 25 of these having known medicinal properties in local traditions. Dr. Elodie Freymann, one of the lead researchers from Brown University, emphasized that the findings raise concerns about the impact of habitat destruction. She explained that the loss of forests could not only affect the elephants but also deprive humans of potential medicines derived from the same natural sources. One example of the elephants’ self-medication is the use of a plant called Angurweet to treat their calves. A local wildlife scout described how elephant mothers mix this plant with their milk and feed it to their young. The calves chew on the mixture and spit out the solid parts, suggesting they are extracting the plant’s beneficial components. Dr. Fabien Schultz from the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine in Hamburg noted that local knowledge has been instrumental in guiding further research. The team is now tracking the elephants to determine if they choose specific plants based on particular health needs and whether those plants have actual medicinal properties. This study adds to a growing body of evidence that animals have long used natural remedies to treat ailments. Historical records date back to the early third century, when the Roman author Claudius Aelian described an elephant that consumed olive tree flowers and oil after being wounded and later recovered. In recent years, scientists have documented similar behaviors in various species, including mosquitoes, bees, and great apes. Dr. Michael Huffman, a primatologist not involved in the study, noted that each new species studied contributes to a broader understanding of natural medicine. Dr. Freymann added that many modern medicines originate from natural sources, underscoring the importance of preserving forests to maintain these "natural pharmacies" and potentially discover new treatments in the future.