The stray dog appeared to be facing a dire threat to its survival when it found itself surrounded by three crocodiles.
However, in an astonishing turn of events, it became evident that the idea of a stray dog being killed by crocodiles was far from reality. Instead of attacking the young stray, two of the crocodiles decided to nudge it gently with their snouts, carefully guiding the dog to a place of safety
Rather than attacking the young stray, two of the crocodiles used their snouts to gently nudge the dog toward safety.
The dog, seemingly oblivious to the nearby crocs, followed their guidance, moving away from the riverbank where a pack of barking feral dogs awaited. This ensured a secure escape route for the stray.
According to experts, the marsh crocodiles, also known as muggers, displayed behavior that resembled guiding the dog away from the area where the pack of dogs was present.
Despite their capability to attack and easily overpower the dog, the crocodiles chose not to harm it, opting instead to nudge it toward safety.
These marsh crocodiles, known as muggers and capable of weighing up to 1,000 pounds, refrained from attacking despite their ability to do so. The scientists, in a report published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa, commented,
These marsh crocodiles, which can weigh up to 1,000 pounds, showed an absence of predatory behavior in this instance. Scientists, in a report published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa, noted that the crocodiles were actively helping the dog.
They stated, 'These crocodiles were actually touching the dog with their snout and nudging it to move further for a safe ascent on the bank and eventually escape,'
They added: 'Given that the crocodile was 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, implies that the hunger drive was absent.'
While the exact reason behind this behavior remains a mystery, scientists speculate that marsh crocodiles, or muggers, are not inherently aggressive and may possess a degree of emotional intelligence, as demonstrated in this remarkable case.
