While animals are often seen as companions or predators, there are instances where wild animals have saved human lives in remarkable ways. From dolphins to lions, wild animals have come to the aid of humans, sometimes unknowingly, at other times as if they had a sense of duty. These stories challenge our perceptions of nature and remind us of the often unpredictable bond between humans and wildlife.
1. Famous Actor Saved by Porpoises
In 2010, actor Dick Van Dyke shared a remarkable story on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. He recalled a time when he almost drowned while surfing off the coast of California. After falling asleep on his surfboard, he woke up to find himself far from shore, surrounded by what he thought were sharks. However, it was a group of porpoises. These gentle creatures circled him and pushed him back to shore, saving his life.
2. Shipwrecked Woman Saved by Dolphins
In the early 1970s, Yvonne Vladislavich was stranded after her boat sank off the coast of Mozambique. As she swam toward shore, six sharks began to circle her, threatening her life. Just when things seemed hopeless, a pod of dolphins appeared. They kept the sharks at bay, following her as she swam for 40 kilometers (25 miles) until she reached safety. Yvonne was the only survivor of the four people aboard the boat.
3. Man Attacked by Mountain Lion, Saved by Bear
While hiking in Whiskey Flats, California, Robert Biggs was attacked by a mountain lion in 2012. The lion pounced on him from behind and dragged him to the ground. Just when it seemed like the mountain lion would overpower him, a bear appeared and fought off the big cat, saving Biggs’ life. The bear returned to her cub, while Biggs managed to escape with only an arm injury.
4. Fisherman Saved by Dolphins
In 2002, Grant Dickson’s trawler sank off the coast of Queensland, Australia, leaving him stranded in the water surrounded by hungry sharks. As the sharks circled, the dolphins arrived and began to chase them away. Despite the danger, the dolphins kept Dickson safe for hours until he was rescued. He remained in the water for 40 hours before a passing ship found him. Sadly, Dickson was the only survivor of the three-man crew.
5. Whale Saves Woman from Shark
In October 2017, marine biologist Nan Hauser was swimming off the coast of the Cook Islands when a humpback whale unexpectedly appeared and began nudging her with its head and belly. At first, Hauser was confused, but then she realized the whale was trying to protect her from a nearby tiger shark. The whale kept bumping her and shielding her from the predator until she made it safely back to her research vessel.
6. Dolphins Save Surfer from Shark
On August 28, 2016, surfer Todd Endris was attacked by a great white shark while surfing in California. After the shark bit him multiple times, a group of dolphins arrived to protect him. The dolphins surrounded him and kept him safe while he swam back to shore, despite the shark’s continued attacks. Endris lost a lot of blood but survived the encounter, and the dolphins helped prevent further injury.
7. Deer Saves Woman from Unidentified Man
In February 2012, a woman in Oxford, Ohio, was attacked by a man as she walked home late at night. As the man tried to drag her into a field, a deer, startled by the commotion, fled from its resting spot. The sound of the deer’s sudden movement scared off the attacker, and he fled the scene. The woman was left unharmed, though she was unable to provide any description of her attacker to the police.
8. Dolphins Save Lifeguards from Shark
In 2004, a group of lifeguards in New Zealand were surrounded by dolphins while swimming in the ocean. As it turned out, the dolphins were protecting them from a lurking great white shark. The dolphins continued to circle the group for 40 minutes until the shark left. Though the lifeguards remained unaware of the danger, the dolphins had kept them safe during a potentially deadly situation.
9. Sea Lion Saves Man from Drowning
In 2000, Kevin Hines attempted suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. While he was struggling in the water, a sea lion appeared and kept him afloat, preventing him from drowning. Initially, Hines mistook the sea lion for a shark, but soon realized the animal was helping him. The sea lion stayed with Hines until a Coast Guard boat arrived, making the rescue much quicker and saving his life.
10. Lions Save Girl from Kidnappers
In June 2005, a 12-year-old girl in Ethiopia was kidnapped by a group of men. The girl was held captive for a week, during which time the police were searching for her. When the kidnappers were approached by three lions, the animals didn’t attack. Instead, the lions stayed with the girl until the police arrived, allowing her to be rescued. While some experts believe the lions might have mistaken her cries for a cub’s, others suspect the lions were interrupted just before they planned to attack her.
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