Crocodile 'rescues' puppy chased into river by wild dogs

India Mugger crocodiles in the Savitri River surprised scientists when they rescued a dog in distress instead of eating it.

A crocodile swam up and pushed the dog to shore. Photo: Utkarsha Chavan/Chavan & Borkar — A crocodile swam up and pushed the dog to shore. Photo: *Utkarsha Chavan/Chavan & Borkar*

Scientists in India have observed mugger crocodiles engaging in a range of unusual behaviors, including hunting in packs, using sticks as bait to lure storks and herons into attack range, taking delight in flower garlands floating in the river, and even saving a dog from being chased by wild dogs. New research published in the journal Threatened Taxa suggests that mugger crocodiles ( Crocodylus palustris ) living in the Savitri River in Maharashtra, India, have more advanced cognition than scientists previously thought.

According to researchers, a young dog ran into the river after being chased by a pack of adult wild dogs. Instead of eating the dog, three mugger crocodiles joined forces to push it to the bank. The crocodiles guided the dog away from the area where it was vulnerable to attack by wild dogs waiting on the river bank. They used their snouts to guide the dog to swim to safety and escape.

The researchers believe this behavior is a sign of empathy, suggesting that the crocodiles are concerned about the dog’s safety. While it’s interesting that they don’t eat easy prey, there’s little evidence that crocodiles can empathize with other species. Duncan Leitch, a biologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, is skeptical of the findings, saying the team could be looking at it from a human perspective and trying to assign traits that crocodiles don’t have.

Additionally, the new study documented several instances where muggers circled around a school of fish, forming a whirlpool. Their movements trapped the fish, allowing them to eat. Similar behavior has been documented in other crocodilians. In the study, muggers appeared to use sticks to lure wading birds such as the ibis ( Bubulcus ibis ). These birds use sticks to build their nests, and competition for sticks can be intense. So the sticks protruding from the muggers’ snouts seemed to be particularly appealing.

The researchers from Hazarimal Somani University found that mugger crocodiles were attracted to marigold ( Tagetes erecta ) wreaths thrown into the river during funerals. They believe the crocodiles may be attracted to the color of the flowers and their antibacterial properties. However, they did not interact with or eat the flowers nearby.

An Khang (According to Live Science )

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