Monkeys swim across Odisha river to save companion from crocodile, dramatic video emerges

Crocodiles are commonly spotted across Odisha, particularly around the Bhitarkanika National Park (Image source: Odisha TV)

A group of monkeys was seen making a desperate attempt to rescue one of their own from a saltwater crocodile in the Mahakalapada area of Odisha’s Kendrapara district.

The dramatic video shows several monkeys swimming straight towards the crocodile after it attacked and dragged one of them into the river. The group chased the reptile, but failed to save the monkey.

The incident unfolded in a region criss-crossed by rivers and rivulets, including the Kharinasi tributary of the Mahanadi, where crocodile sightings are frequent. These waterways are known to pose risks to wildlife and, at times, even to humans, NDTV reported.

A crocodile suddenly attacked & dragged a monkey into the river in Kendrapara, Odisha 🤯

Instead of fleeing, a large troop of monkeys swam in a straight line toward the crocodile to save their companion 💙 pic.twitter.com/sCjgBcPjK6

— News Algebra (@NewsAlgebraIND) December 28, 2025

The video has since gone viral, prompting a wave of reactions. “An extraordinary moment of animal solidarity—instinct, courage, and compassion on full display in the wild,” a user wrote. “wildest teamwork i’ve seen all week, nature don’t play anon,” another user commented.

“Extremely courageous monkeys. Appreciate them,” a third user reacted.

Crocodiles are commonly spotted across Odisha, particularly around the Bhitarkanika National Park, which is home to India’s largest population of saltwater crocodiles. Coastal areas such as Astaranga and Chandrabhaga near Puri also report regular sightings. In recent months, floods have pushed crocodiles out of their natural habitats and into nearby villages, a report in NDTV said.

In 2021, two langurs reportedly killed hundreds of puppies in Maharashtra’s Beed district after dogs killed an infant monkey. In the “revenge killings”, the monkeys hunted down puppies in the neighbourhood and took them to roofs and trees, where they died from lack of food and water. According to The Guardian, many puppies were thrown from a height.