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

Scientists in India have observed mugger crocodiles engaging in a range of unusual behaviours, including hunting in packs, using sticks as bait to lure storks and herons into range, taking delight in floating flower garlands on rivers, 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 muggers joined forces to push it to shore. The crocodiles guided the dog away from an area where it was vulnerable to attack by wild dogs waiting on the riverbank. They used their snouts to touch the dog, escorting it to safety and escape.

The researchers believe this behavior is a sign of empathy, indicating that the crocodiles care 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 researchers 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 vortex. Their movements trapped the fish, allowing them to eat their prey. 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 particularly appealing.

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

An Khang (According to Live Science )

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