Three crocodiles guide stray dog to safety from a pack of feral dogs, scientists baffled

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When a young dog in India sought refuge in a river while being chased by a pack of feral animals, it was immediately surrounded by three crocodiles. They were so close they could "have easily devoured" it, experts say, but when their snouts came in contact, they helped save its life instead.

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"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," researchers wrote. "...Given that the mugger 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."

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But why didn't the crocodiles use this as an opportunity to eat the dog, like they have in other instances? Even the scientists are unsure. Their best guess, however, is that the muggers were simply putting their emotional intelligence on display. "Emotional empathy" – which allows one species "to experience the emotional feelings of another" – isn't thoroughly investigated in these animals, they said, but it could be an answer.

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