Crocodiles push stray dog to safety after it falls into danger-filled river

Scientists believe rare rescue is a sign that the fearsome reptiles may be capable of compassion

In an apparent example of interspecies compassion, a group of crocodiles appeared to usher a dog to safety after it fell into a dangerous river.

The dog, believed to be a stray, was being chased by a pack of other feral canines when it jumped into the River Savirtri in India out of harm’s way, or so it thought.

But the river was infested by local mugger crocodiles, and three of them were floating near the stray.

This should have been the end of the helpless pup, with the crocs being “well within the striking range,” according to a report published by scientists in the Journal of Threatening Taxa.

However, the crocodiles appeared to usher the dog back to safety on the shore.

“These crocodiles were actually touching the dog with their snouts and nudging it to move further for a safe ascent on the bank and eventually escape,” the researchers wrote.

“The muggers were well within the striking range and could have easily devoured the dog, yet none of them attacked and instead chose to nudge it towards the bank, implying that the hunger drive was absent.”

The researchers say that the crocodiles were “docile”. Adult male mugger crocs can reach 18 feet long and weigh up to 1,000 pounds, according to the Wildlife Institute of India.

The researchers said they believe that the pup rescue could be a sign of the crocs having emotional intelligence.

“The curious case of a dog ‘rescued’ by the group of crocodiles reported here seems more on lines of empathy than altruistic behaviour,” the scientists said.

Aside from the muggers’ apparent alliance with stray dogs, scientists discovered another wholesome obsession that the crocs appeared to have: marigold flowers.

Crocodiles are often seen floating or laying in marigolds, often keeping “physical contact” with the yellow flowers, which the researchers note have compounds that can protect skin from fungi and bacteria.

The Savitri River is polluted with sewage and other harmful ingredients, so this may be why they like to have contact with the petals.

A sad dog in the shelter can scarcely raise her head and begs softly for a reassuring pat on the back.

John Hwang, an animal enthusiast and photographer, encountered a dog at a shelter that utterly stole his heart.

A sad dog at a shelter can barely lift her head to ask for a hug.

John Hwang, an animal enthusiast and photographer, met a nice dog at the Baldwin Park animal shelter in Los Angeles. The guy often visits such facilities to spend time with animals in need of affection, and it was there that he saw the 10-year-old dog, who was quite depressed and curled up in a corner, not moving at all.

The Dodo was informed by John. “My first reaction was that this dog was bashful or sad and didn’t want to engage with me.” “I was astonished when she came me when she saw me.”

Indeed, as soon as she spotted John, she went on all fours, and he observed that she was shivering slightly.

A shelter dog lifts her head to be petted.

“She appeared clumsy, yet the way she moved was adorable,” John adds. She was filthy, but her heart was pure.”

The dog wanted to be loved. She began by sniffing John from a safe distance, but before long, her body was leaning against the fence, as if yearning to be a member of a family. Of course, John began caressing her, and they spent some time together relaxing and enjoying one other’s company.

“We certainly could have sat there all day,” John continued.

Although the dog seemed afraid at first, she rapidly showed John all the love she had to offer, teaching us not to judge a book by its cover or a dog by its appearance. He has the impression that he is in a refuge.

She came to find a loving home, and her dream was granted. It turns out that this dog’s tiny deed made others feel so much affection and share her tale. Thousands of people have seen John Hwang’s images on social media.

“A lot of people were in love with this female dog and were trying all they could to attempt to get her out,” John says.

Leashes of Love Rescue, which specialized in rescuing dogs from high-death shelters, was among many devastated by the dog’s fate. Cathi Perez, a group volunteer, picked up the dog, called “Annabelle,” as soon as the shelter listed her for adoption. When Annabelle was brought to Cathi, she was standing, offering kisses and waving her tail.

“She was so delighted to get out of her kennel,” Kathy explains. Simply going for a stroll outside. The second time she came out, she was overjoyed. She wasn’t the same dog anymore.

She was brought to the vet for a checkup to cure an eye infection, which was one of a number of health concerns that needed to be treated. She will be picked up in a few days by a lady who has already provided her a permanent home.

Related Posts

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*