Stray Dog Met Three Crocodiles On River And What Happened Next Surprised Everyone

Crocodiles are known to be dangerous. They’re meat-eaters and can be risky for anyone who gets too close. Hence, if you’re in their areas, like near a river or a lake, where they often hide their entire bodies underwater, it’s essential to be careful.

But you know, life can be full of surprises, and just the other day, something unusual happened. A dog accidentally met not one, but three crocodiles while swimming in a river. You’d think that’s a recipe for disaster, right? Well, what followed was quite surprising.

 

 

 

In a recent report published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa, scientists who have been studying marsh crocodiles (also known as muggers) in India, shared a surprising observation.

There was a young dog being chased by a pack of feral dogs, which eventually led the pup to seek refuge in the Savitri River. At this point, three adult muggers were nearby in the water, and they became interested in the dog.

 

 

 

Interestingly, despite adult male muggers being known to grow up to 18 feet in length and weigh up to 1,000 pounds, these massive reptiles don’t always display aggression. Instead of treating the dog as their potential meal, two of the crocs exhibited unexpectedly gentle behavior. They didn’t attack the dog; instead, they guided it away from the pack of dogs waiting for it on the river bank. They used their snouts to touch and nudge the dog to safety, even though they could have easily captured and eaten it.

 

 

 

So, why did the crocs choose empathy over a meal? Even the scientists aren’t entirely sure. Their best guess is that these muggers were demonstrating emotional intelligence. They suggest that the crocs might have experienced a form of “emotional empathy,” which allows one species to understand and relate to the emotions of another. While not extensively studied in reptiles, this could explain their unusual behavior.

“As far as animal cognition is concerned… reptiles have been underestimated and research in reptilian cognition hasn’t progressed much due to this bias,” the report’s abstract reads. “Though crocodiles are generally stereotyped as lethargic and lacking social interactions except for territoriality, parental care and prey ambush, they demonstrate discrete behavioral repertoire in a variety of situations suggestive of refined cognition.”

Pretty amazing, right? It just goes to show that we’ve got a lot more to uncover about these surprising creatures.

If you enjoyed this story as much as we did, give it a thumbs up and share it with your friends. And remember to swing by our homepage often for more fascinating stories from the animal kingdom

Related Posts

In today’s fast-paced world, fast foods have become a comfortable option for many people.

In today’s fast-paced world, fast foods have become a comfortable option for many people.

From bundled snacks and pre-cooked meals to sugary cereals and soft drinks, these items are often packed with added sugars, unhealthy fats, and preservatives. While they may…

Part 15 Men don’t know that women without…See more

Part 15 Men don’t know that women without…See more

In a world moving at breakneck speed, where technology and new generations set the pace of daily life, there’s something that’s slowly being lost: the emotional connection…

SAD, BILL CLINTON BREAKS DOWN DURING SHOCKING ANNOUNCEMENT

SAD, BILL CLINTON BREAKS DOWN DURING SHOCKING ANNOUNCEMENT

In a rare and deeply emotional appearance, former U.S. President Bill Clinton was overcome with grief as he publicly addressed the passing of his longtime friend and…

A Life-Altering Incident: Heavy Object Falling on Head Caused Fatal Cervical Spine Fracture in 18-Year-Old Worker

A Life-Altering Incident: Heavy Object Falling on Head Caused Fatal Cervical Spine Fracture in 18-Year-Old Worker

In September 2022, the Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports published a troubling case involving an 18-year-old male worker in India who sustained a severe cervical spine injury…

This is very important! Men who

This is very important! Men who

In a world moving at breakneck speed, where technology and new generations set the pace of daily life, there’s something that’s slowly being lost: the emotional connection…

Youngest Death Sentences Of All Time… These Cases Will Leave You Speechless

Youngest Death Sentences Of All Time… These Cases Will Leave You Speechless

Imagine being sentenced to death… before you’ve even finished puberty. While most teens worry about school or social media, these kids faced the unthinkable—execution. There are stories…