Scientists believe rare rescue is a sign that the fearsome reptiles may be capable of compassion
In an apparent example of interspecies compassion, a group of crocodiles appeared to usher a dog to safety after it fell into a dangerous river.
The dog, believed to be a stray, was being chased by a pack of other feral canines when it jumped into the River Savirtri in India out of harm’s way, or so it thought.
But the river was infested by local mugger crocodiles, and three of them were floating near the stray.
This should have been the end of the helpless pup, with the crocs being “well within the striking range,” according to a report published by scientists in the Journal of Threatening Taxa.
However, the crocodiles appeared to usher the dog back to safety on the shore.
“These crocodiles were actually touching the dog with their snouts and nudging it to move further for a safe ascent on the bank and eventually escape,” the researchers wrote.
“The muggers were 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, implying that the hunger drive was absent.”
The researchers say that the crocodiles were “docile”. Adult male mugger crocs can reach 18 feet long and weigh up to 1,000 pounds, according to the Wildlife Institute of India.
The researchers said they believe that the pup rescue could be a sign of the crocs having emotional intelligence.
“The curious case of a dog ‘rescued’ by the group of crocodiles reported here seems more on lines of empathy than altruistic behaviour,” the scientists said.
Aside from the muggers’ apparent alliance with stray dogs, scientists discovered another wholesome obsession that the crocs appeared to have: marigold flowers.
Crocodiles are often seen floating or laying in marigolds, often keeping “physical contact” with the yellow flowers, which the researchers note have compounds that can protect skin from fungi and bacteria.
The Savitri River is polluted with sewage and other harmful ingredients, so this may be why they like to have contact with the petals.
Albino sisters born 12 years apart become modeling sensations
They may have been born more than a decade apart, but these siblings still have one remarkable thing in common.
Albinism is a rare genetic disorder that causes a lack of pigmentation in the skin, eyes and/or hair, giving albino people a unique look:
It’s very rare to have an albino child… which makes it remarkable that one Kazakh couple had not one, but two albino children 12 years apart.
Meet Asel and Kamila, the incredibly unique siblings that have turned into in-demand models:
Asel is the older sibling at 14. Her mother, Aiman Sarkitova, said she was stunned when she was born albino.
“When I gave birth to my eldest, genetics were not so developed with us,” she told the Daily Mail. “It is developing only now. The doctors were shocked.”
Imagine their surprise when, 12 years later, Kamila was born with the same condition.
It’s an incredible, striking sight to see these two siblings together—so the two teamed up and became a modeling duo.
Asel has already been modeling since she was 10, but with her 2-year-old sister at her side she’s become even more in-demand. The pair have over 33,000 followers on Instagram.
While their albinism has led to big success, it’s not always easy. The condition is also associated with medical conditions like a sensitivity to sunlight.
“If I go outside in the afternoon, then I definitely apply sunscreen, put on clothes to protect my skin, headgear or use an umbrella,” Asel said.
“In the evening, when there is almost no sun, it’s much easier for me.”
But through whatever ups and downs life throws at them, they’ll always have each other.
The condition is so rare that albino people can feel alone, but these two sisters are lucky that they’ll always have a family member just like them.
And hopefully, their success as models will shed some light on albinism and show how uniquely beautiful albino people can be.
“Many people do not know what albinos are,” Asel said.
We think these sisters are stunning! Share this remarkable story and beautiful photos!
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