Wild Animal Heroes
I've gathered together true stories of wild animal heroes. The stores range from dolphins, gorillas, and an elephant seal pup saving humans, to dolphins saving whales, elephants rescuing antelopes and a polar bear saving a kitten. Their stories are truly remarkable and inspiring.
Animals Rescuing Humans
True Stories of Wild Animals Rescuing Humans.
Photo: Dolphins swimming by a boat.
Lifeguards Saved From Shark Attack By Dolphins
On Oct. 30, 2004 a group of lifeguards swimming off the coast of New Zealand were protected from a shark attack by dolphins.
Lifeguard Rob Howes and three female lifeguards were on a training swim about 100 metres off Ocean Beach near Whangarei on the North Island. While they were swimming a pod of dolphins suddenly came steaming at them and started circling them. The dolphins bunched the four swimmers together by circling about 4-8 centimetres from them, and slapping the water with their tails for about 40 minutes.
Howes drifted away from the main group when an opening occurred, it was then he saw a great white shark about two metres away. When the shark started moving toward the women the dolphins went into hyper-drive. Howes said, "I would suggest they were creating a confusion screen around the girls. It was just a mass of fins, backs and human heads."
The shark left as a rescue boat neared, but the dolphins remained close by as the group swam back to shore.
Lifeguard Rob Howes and three female lifeguards were on a training swim about 100 metres off Ocean Beach near Whangarei on the North Island. While they were swimming a pod of dolphins suddenly came steaming at them and started circling them. The dolphins bunched the four swimmers together by circling about 4-8 centimetres from them, and slapping the water with their tails for about 40 minutes.
Howes drifted away from the main group when an opening occurred, it was then he saw a great white shark about two metres away. When the shark started moving toward the women the dolphins went into hyper-drive. Howes said, "I would suggest they were creating a confusion screen around the girls. It was just a mass of fins, backs and human heads."
The shark left as a rescue boat neared, but the dolphins remained close by as the group swam back to shore.
- Dolphins save swimmers from shark
- A pod of dolphins formed a protective screen around a group of New Zealand lifeguards as great white shark lingers below the surface.
- Dolphins saved us from shark, lifeguards say
- A pod of dolphins is being credited with saving a group of lifeguards from a circling great white shark.
Three Dolphins Rescue Tourist From Sharks
In 1996 a British tourist, Martin Richardson, was saved from a shark attack in the Gulf of Akaba by three dolphins.
According to the captain of the boat Jadran, Yitzhak Hermon, Richardson along with 3 other passengers from the boat had gone into the water to swim with a group of dolphins. When the other 2 came back, Richardson decided to stay in a bit longer.
"Suddenly we heard him scream. We thought it was a joke at first. Dolphins never attack humans. Then we saw him leap in the air and blood stained the water all around him. We understood that he was being attacked by sharks."
When one of the boat's crew sped to Richardson's aid in a rubber boat, he saw the injured man being circled by three dolphins, who leaped into the air and smacked the water with their tails and flippers, and placed themselves between Richardson and the sharks.
According to the captain of the boat Jadran, Yitzhak Hermon, Richardson along with 3 other passengers from the boat had gone into the water to swim with a group of dolphins. When the other 2 came back, Richardson decided to stay in a bit longer.
"Suddenly we heard him scream. We thought it was a joke at first. Dolphins never attack humans. Then we saw him leap in the air and blood stained the water all around him. We understood that he was being attacked by sharks."
When one of the boat's crew sped to Richardson's aid in a rubber boat, he saw the injured man being circled by three dolphins, who leaped into the air and smacked the water with their tails and flippers, and placed themselves between Richardson and the sharks.
- Three dolphins rescue tourist from sharks
- Friday August 2, 1996
Three dolphins rescue tourist from sharks
Surfer Saved From Shark By Dolphins
On Aug. 28, 2007 just before 11 a.m. at Marina State Park off Monterey, Calif., surfer Todd Endris was attacked by a great white shark, estimated to be 12 to 15 feet long. The shark had hit him three times, peeling the skin off his back and mauling his right leg to the bone. That's when a pod of bottlenose dolphins showed up, they circled him forming a protective ring around him, keeping the shark at bay which enabled him to get to shore, where quick first aid provided by a friend saved his life.
"Truly a miracle," Endris told TODAY's Natalie Morales.
Endris needed physical therapy to repair muscle damage suffered during the attack. Six weeks after the attack he was well enough to go surfing again.
"Truly a miracle," Endris told TODAY's Natalie Morales.
Endris needed physical therapy to repair muscle damage suffered during the attack. Six weeks after the attack he was well enough to go surfing again.
- Dolphins rescue surfer from shark - People: Tales of survival - MSNBC.com
- Surfer Todd Endris relives a shark attack that left him severely injured, and how a pod of dolphins formed a ring around him to enable his escape.
- Dolphins Protect Injured Surfer From Shark
- In late August, Endris was surfing in Monterey, California when a great white shark came out of nowhere and hit him three times
Filippo The Dolphin Saves Boy's Life
In 2000, Davide Ceci, 14, a non-swimmer, fell from his father's boat and was within minutes of death when dolphin Filippo came to his rescue. While Emanuele Ceci was still unaware his son had fallen into the water, Filippo was pushing him up out of the water to safety.
Said Davide, "When I realised it was Filippo pushing me, I grabbed on to him." The dolphin got close enough to the boat for Davide's father to grab his son.
Davide's mother Signora Ceci said: "It is a hero, it seems impossible an animal could have done something like that, to feel the instinct to save a human life."
The friendly dolphin was a popular tourist attraction off Manfredonia in south-east Italy.
Said Davide, "When I realised it was Filippo pushing me, I grabbed on to him." The dolphin got close enough to the boat for Davide's father to grab his son.
Davide's mother Signora Ceci said: "It is a hero, it seems impossible an animal could have done something like that, to feel the instinct to save a human life."
The friendly dolphin was a popular tourist attraction off Manfredonia in south-east Italy.
- Friendly dolphin saves teenage boy from drowning
- Boy pushed back to his boat after fall.
A friendly dolphin has saved a teenage boy from drowning.
Binti Jua, Female Lowland Gorilla Rescues 3 yr Old Boy
On August 16, 1996 in the Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, Illinois, a three-year-old boy climbed the wall around the gorilla enclosure and fell 20 feet onto concrete below, losing consciousness. Binti Jua, female Lowland Gorilla (and niece of Koko, the world famous gorilla that knows and communicates using American Sign Language), walked to the boy's side and when another larger female gorilla approached, Binti growled at her. Binti picked up the child, and cradling him with her right arm, carried him 60 feet to an access entrance where zoo personnel could retrieve him. Her 17-month-old baby, Koola, was clutched her back throughout the incident. The boy spent four days in the hospital and recovered fully.
- Binti Jua - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Binti Jua From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jambo, Male Lowland Gorilla Protects 5 yr Old Boy
On August 31, 1986 at Jersey Zoo, five year old Levan Merritt fell into the gorilla enclosure and lost consciousness. Jambo stood guard over the boy when he was unconscious, placing himself between the boy and other gorillas in a protective gesture. At one point he reached down and touched the boy's skin then sniffed his fingers testing for scent. When the boy regained consciousness and started to cry, Jambo and the other gorillas retreated, an ambulanceman and two keepers rescued the boy.
- Jambo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Jambo From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Jambo Gorilla Gerald Durrell Jersey Zoo
- The Hero
Jambo, "A magnificent individual, courteous and gentle"
Gimpy The Elephant Seal Pup Saves Man From A Mauling
In a story submitted to Reader's Digest, Hugh Ryono tells of how a female elephant seal pup named Gimpy saved him from a mauling by three aggressive seal pups. He describes Gimpy as a "gentle giant at 150+ pounds".
One day he slipped and belly-flopped to the deck at the Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur, where he volunteered. As three aggressive seal pups started moving in, Gimpy came to his rescue. She became his shield against the other pups, and forced them away.
One day he slipped and belly-flopped to the deck at the Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur, where he volunteered. As three aggressive seal pups started moving in, Gimpy came to his rescue. She became his shield against the other pups, and forced them away.
- True Stories of Hero Pets | Pet Life | Reader's Digest
- These lifesaving pets will amaze and inspire you!
Wild Animal Books
More Wild Animal Books
Animals Rescuing Animals
True Stories of Wild Animals Rescuing Other Animals.
Photo of Dolphin
Moko The Dolphin Saves 2 Stranded Pygmy Sperm Whales
In March 2008 at Mahia Beach, New Zealand, a dolphin named Moko guided 2 stranded Pygmy Sperm Whales to safety. The two pygmy sperm whales, a mother and her calf, were found stranded on Mahia Beach. Rescuers worked for more than an hour to get the whales back into the water, but the whales kept getting disorientated and stranded themselves four more times on a sandbar. It looked likely the whales would have to be euthanized to prevent them suffering a prolonged death.
Then Moko came to the rescue. She approached the whales and led them 200 yards along the beach and through a channel out to the open sea.
After the rescue, Moko returned to the beach and joined in games with local residents.
Then Moko came to the rescue. She approached the whales and led them 200 yards along the beach and through a channel out to the open sea.
After the rescue, Moko returned to the beach and joined in games with local residents.
- Dolphin rescues stranded whales - CNN.com
- A dolphin swam up to two distressed whales that appeared headed for death in a beach stranding in New Zealand and guided them to safety, witnesses said Wednesday.
Video Of Moko
Dolphins Rescue Pod Of Pilot Whales
In September 1983 at Tokerau Beach, North-land, New Zealand, a pod of 80 pilot whales ran aground and were stranded by the ebbing tide. Local townspeople waded out, talked soothingly to the whales and kept their skins wet. When the tide came back in and refloated the whales, the New Zealanders turned them around and tried to guide them to deeper waters.
A school of dolphins then swam into the shallows around the pilot whales and guided them out to sea. Because of the dolphins 76 of the pilot whales were saved.
A school of dolphins then swam into the shallows around the pilot whales and guided them out to sea. Because of the dolphins 76 of the pilot whales were saved.
- Dolphins To The Rescue -- Again!
- Dolphins to the rescue -- again!September 1983. Tokerau Beach, N
Elephants Rescue Antelope From Boma
In 2003 in Empangeni, Zululand, 11 elephants came to the rescue of a herd of antelope who were being held in a boma.
A private game capture company had been working on the Thula Thula Exclusive Private Game Reserve capturing antelope that were to be relocated for a breeding programme. Before relocation the antelope were being housed in a boma enclosure. That night a herd of 11 elephants approached the boma. The elephant herd circled the enclosure, then the herd's matriarch Nana approached the enclosure gates and began tampering with the metal latches holding the gates closed. She carefully undid all the latches with her trunk, swung the gate open and stood back with her herd. The herd watched the antelope leave the boma and dart off before they walked off into the night.
Elephant herd rescues antelope from KZN Boma
A private game capture company had been working on the Thula Thula Exclusive Private Game Reserve capturing antelope that were to be relocated for a breeding programme. Before relocation the antelope were being housed in a boma enclosure. That night a herd of 11 elephants approached the boma. The elephant herd circled the enclosure, then the herd's matriarch Nana approached the enclosure gates and began tampering with the metal latches holding the gates closed. She carefully undid all the latches with her trunk, swung the gate open and stood back with her herd. The herd watched the antelope leave the boma and dart off before they walked off into the night.
Elephant herd rescues antelope from KZN Boma
Tuk The Polar Bear Saves Kitten
Karleen Bradford in her book "Animal Heroes: 27 True Stories" tells the true story of Tuk the polar bear. He was housed at Vancouver's now defunct Stanley Park Zoo. In 1983 a young man threw a kitten into the polar bear's pool. Tuk rose, stretched, and then slid into the pool, surfacing moments later with the kitten held gently in his teeth. He then lay by the pool, with the tiny kitten held protectively between his paws and licked it dry.
Wildlife DVDs
Links
- My Hero : Directory
- Annie Bronn Johnston worked to save the wild mustangs in the United StatesBandit saved Courtney from a venomous snake.Big Ben raced his way into the hearts and memories of fans.Binti Jua rescued a small boy at a Chicago zoo.Cyclops was a brave and loving dog and is deeply missed.
- Fauna Pages Animal Heroes
- Animal Heroes The pets described on this page are all heroes, for sure!
- FOXNews.com - Half-Breed Wolf Dog Hero Rescues Elderly Owners From Snowstorm
- Half-Breed Wolf Dog Hero Rescues Elderly Owners From Snowstorm, When Eve and Norman Fertig rescued a sick, two-week old half wolf, half German Shepard dog from a breeder almost seven years ago, they'd never dreamed that the animal would one day save their lives.
- Koko.org - News
- Brookfield's hero is Koko's niece. Brookfield Zoo's Primate World had much to celebrate after an incident left a three-year-old in the hospital and an eight-year-old lowland gorilla a hero.
- Dolphins Rescuing Humans
- Dolphins rescuing and helping humans. Dolphins are social animals, living in groups called pods and taking loving care of their babies. They're also known to be very friendly to humans.
Wildlife On CafePress
Soaring Dolphins Framed Tile
Price: 10.99 
Painted Elephant Wall Clock
Price: 19.99
Dark T-Shirt
Price: 18.99
Polar bear Large Poster
Price: 21.99
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- SolarFeline SolarFeline Aug 7, 2009 @ 12:23 pm
- What a wonderful lens with remarkable stories. Stories like these really touch the heart. Thumbs up!
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- Roan Roan Jul 8, 2009 @ 3:46 pm
- I like these alot!!!!!!
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- Kenna Kenna Jun 27, 2009 @ 7:04 pm
- I love dolphin storys and espeasily these ones!!!!!!!!
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- carly carly Jun 9, 2009 @ 5:28 am
- i love all the videos hahaha!!1
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- ojolie ojolie Apr 19, 2009 @ 9:16 am
- Here is an artistic animated ecard for Earth Day, "Blue Planet". It is an underwater production completely with many reef fishes, a turtle, a ray and dolphins.
It is free to send.
http://www.ojolie.com/index.php?step=preview&ec_id=54
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by manxsal
Besides making lenses I am a professional Community Moderator/Manager and Administrator for online communities & an Editor at Zenome.com. I am an anim... (more)
