Animals have long been viewed as either our greatest companions or something to be greatly feared. Still, there are a plethora of examples of them acting as heroes, saving human lives in astonishing ways. From unexpected friendships to extraordinary acts of kindness to daring rescues, these stories challenge conventional beliefs about animals’ capabilities and instincts.
Understanding Animal Behavior
Many of us know that some species of animals are considered to be intelligent, but what we don’t always see is that some display “emotional intelligence.” This intelligence might help explain why they engage in rescue behaviors, suggesting that animals are capable of understanding and responding to emotional cues, leading them to act selflessly in critical situations.
1. The Stray Pit Bull Hero
In 2008, a stray pit bull saved a woman and her child from a man threatening them with a knife in a parking lot. The dog appeared from nowhere, charged the assailant, and caused him to flee in terror. As the mother and child didn’t know their attacker’s intentions, the pit bull likely saved their lives, highlighting how even animals without prior training or familiarity with humans can sense danger and act to protect them.
2. Lions as Guardians
Three lions intervened during the kidnapping of a 12-year-old girl in rural Ethiopia in 2005. Four days after kidnapping the girl, her captors attempted to move her when the lions chased the kidnappers away and remained behind, guarding her until police arrived. The girl reported that the kidnappers had beaten her but that the lions had not touched her at all.
3. Beluga Whale’s Daring Rescue
The Polarland Aquarium in Harbin, China, hosted a free diving competition where seven competitors dove into a 20-foot-deep artic-temperature whale tank without using breathing apparatus. The winner would get the opportunity to work as a whale trainer. During the contest, diver Yang Yuna experienced a muscle spasm that wouldn’t allow her to move her legs. As she began to drown, a beluga whale named Mila rescued her by lifting her to the surface, saving her life.
4. Gorilla’s Protective Instincts
In Brookfield Zoo, a western lowland gorilla named Binti Jua rescued a three-year-old boy who had fallen into her enclosure in 1996. The boy had fallen roughly 18 feet into the enclosure. He was unconscious when Binti Jua cradled him in her arms, guarding him from the other gorillas, gently carried him to the enclosure’s entrance, and handed him back to the zoo staff.
5. Dolphins vs. Sharks
While swimming in New Zealand, Rob Howes, his daughter Niccy, and two of her friends were suddenly surrounded by a group of dolphins. The dolphins herded them, pushing them towards one another, and formed a protective circle around the swimmers. As Howes tried to swim away, he saw the reason for the dolphins’ behavior – a great white shark was headed towards them. The dolphins kept the humans in the protective circle, keeping the shark at bay for roughly 40 minutes until it lost interest and swam away.
6. The Fire-Alerting Cat
In an example of the role pets can play in emergency situations, a family cat named Oreo alerted its owners to a house fire by meowing loudly. When she saw smoke and flames coming from the garage, Dianne Busscher went downstairs to investigate what the cat was fussing about. Grabbing Oreo, she quickly alerted her husband and their five children, who were able to escape the burning house unharmed and safely.
7. Dolphin Saves Drowning Boy
In Italy, a dolphin named Filippo rescued a 14-year-old boy, Davide Ceci, who had fallen off his father’s boat. Davide couldn’t swim and was close to drowning when Filippo began to push him towards the boat before his father had even noticed his fall and bore down on the boat until Davide’s father could grab him, ensuring his safety. This incident highlights the capacity of dolphins to recognize human distress and act accordingly.
8. Dog Rescues Woman from River
Brenda Owen was walking with her dog, Penny, when she noticed a wheelchair on the riverbank and a woman floating in the water. After receiving no response from the woman when she called out, Owen told Penny to “fetch”. The dog then jumped into the water and saved the unresponsive woman by swimming out to her and pulling her to shore.
9. Watusi Calf Saves Women from Snake
Janice Wolf was saved from a snake when an 11-month-old Watusi calf turned toward her and blocked her path. She couldn’t understand what the calf was doing and tried to move her by grabbing a hold of her horns and pushing her aside. Then she saw the copper-head snake lying on the path she would have walked if the calf had not stopped her. Having just come out of hospital from a lung infection, the snake’s venom would likely have proven fatal.
10. Elephant Saves a Girl Tsunami
During the 2004 Tsunami in Thailand, Amber Mason was saved from the wave by a four-year-old elephant after it took her on its back and ran for higher ground. The elephant further protected the eight-year-old by turning its back on the crashing wave around them and creating a protective barrier against its impact. Amber’s mother recalled that the elephant effectively took the brunt of the wave that would have killed her child had she been on the beach.
Surprising Animal Rescues
With no database on animal rescues, anecdotal evidence shows that these incidents are more common than we think, and it’s perhaps worth looking into. However, for now, we can simply marvel at these instances where animals demonstrate an extraordinary level of care, protectiveness, and understanding. In a time of great uncertainty, we must recognize the value of animal intelligence and empathy to foster a deeper connection between humans and animals.
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