It is not unusual for us to live with pets – dogs, cats, hamsters and even fish. However, sometimes a “friend of man” becomes a predator. Such stories often end in tragedy, but the friendship between the Costa Rican Chito and the crocodile Pocho is a unique case.
In 1989, Costa Rican Gilbert Shedden, returning home, saw a motionless crocodile on the river bank. He was shot in the head and his left eye was injured, presumably by a local farmer because the reptile attacked the cow. But perhaps it was the work of a poacher. The crocodile was defenseless, and Shedden, taking pity on him, took him with him.
Then the predator weighed only 70 kilograms, and it took three years for it to finally get stronger. The Costa Rican gave him medicine, fed him, even chewed fish for him to make it easier for him to eat. And he gave his friend the name Pocho, which means “strong handsome guy.”
Of course, this story could not go unnoticed. Due to the fact that Shedden spent too much time with Pocho, his wife left him. She thought her husband was crazy. “I love my wife, but I won’t find another Pocho like her. And I’ll find a wife, ”said the Costa Rican about this. The police also found out about the unusual crocodile. They wanted to take him away from Shedden, but he, along with Pocho, swam away every time and hid in the jungle.
Three years later, the Costa Rican released the crocodile into the river so that it could return to its natural order of life, but the next day found the “four-legged friend” on the porch of his house. This happened several times, and Shedden realized that Pocho decided to stay with him. As a result, the predator began to live in a pond near the house, and Gilbert’s acquaintances came up with the nickname “Chito”, which means “crocodile shaman”.
For 23 years, their relationship turned into a friendship: Chito and Pocho swam together, played, hugged and showed shows for tourists. The Costa Rican developed a special language of touch: he slapped the fish on the crocodile’s mouth before feeding, and the rest of the time he touched him extremely gently. So the predator understood when it was possible to click with its jaws, and when it was impossible to bite. As a result, he did not bite Chito even once.
To show the crocodile his strength, Shedden began to hold him while swimming. The first time the predator got angry and threw him into the water, – thanks to this and subsequent attempts, the Costa Rican learned to recognize his mood in his eyes. In addition, he taught Pocho different movements, almost like dancing: “I just repeat any movement twice, and he remembers if he wants. And if I forget one of them, he gets offended and refuses to continue. We have to start the “dance” from the beginning.”
Gilbert’s family also began to take care of the crocodile: his second wife and daughter. Although over time, the wife began to consider Pocho her son, at first she was worried that the predator would succumb to instincts and eat her “friend”. Therefore, she did not let her husband go to the crocodile, and he went to the pond secretly, at night. “I give myself completely to Pocho, I feel with him as if I go to bed in peace. Next to him, I feel that I am in harmony with nature and myself, ”said Shedden.
Due to the attention of tourists, the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Communication of Costa Rica allowed the Corsican to maintain Chito officially. A veterinarian and a biologist were assigned to him, and a diet was specially calculated. The crocodile lived a good life and died of old age at the age of 50.
Saying goodbye to a friend, Shedden decided to tame another crocodile, Pocho II. Although there is progress in their relationship, it is hardly necessary to talk about a repetition of history. Still, the circumstances under which Chito met the first Pocho were special and of great importance for their friendship.