▷ The world of Pets: Dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, amphibians

Pocho is the favorite mascot of the Costa Rican fisherman Gilberto Shedden

Share with your friends !!
photograph of 9 in September of 2011 - (EFE)
  • With its almost five meters long, 445 kilos of weight and more than 70 teeth, Pocho is the favorite mascot of the Costa Rican fisherman Gilberto Shedden.
  • This human relationship – crocodile is unique in the world and has attracted the attention of dozens of scientists.
  • Make 20 years old Shedden found the dying crocodile in a river and decided to heal and care for it.
  • Pocho has some 50 years old and could live a few 30 more.

With its almost five meters long, 445 kilos of weight and more than 70 teeth, Pocho is the favorite mascot of Gilberto Shedden, better known as Chito, a Costa Rican fisherman who has become known as the only person in the world who has achieved “tame” a crocodile. With a huge smile on his face, Chito, of 54 years, anything calmly with Pocho in a pond on his farm in the town of Siquirres, a few 70 miles east of San Jose. But not just anything with him: He has taught to do various tricks like shooting on his body, give the leg, Sustaining head and tail high and to close an eye.

The relationship between man and Crocodile is close and unique in the world and it is the reason why dozens of scientists, experts in animal behavior and journalists visit the home of Chito, his wife, his daughter and his crocodile every year.

I gave him to eat chickens. At first it was all ugly, skinny and malnourished and then proceeded already chubby

The history of Chito and Pocho is pure friendship. Make 20 years found to the dying crocodile on the Parismina river, in the area of the Caribbean, because a rancher had shot him for eating his calves on the shore. The fisherman, which then had 34 years, so he boarded their boat and took him to his house to take advantage of your leather, but as the days passed without the animal dying, he decided to cure it and feed it.

His wife, Olga Valley, account laughs that the arrival of Pocho was a secret Chito saved for months and that was a mystery where going at night. Now ensures that, Although she feels much respect by the crocodile because “will always be a wild animal”, Pocho is without doubt part of his family.

In fact, Chito is the only person who swims with Pocho. Every Sunday afternoon to make a show for tourists and disbelief people, arriving from all Costa Rica to check if the skill of this “Tico Tarzan” (Chito's stage name) is real or a trick.

Every Sunday afternoon to make a show for tourists and disbelief

With a characteristic and contagious joy, Chito puts singing and dancing Caribbean rhythms to curious visitors before launching into the water with complete confidence. He claims that Pocho is grateful to save life and does not hesitate to say that this enormous crocodile is your best friend, and that between both there is a bond that no one else can understand.

Costa Rican authorities are aware of Pocho and their unique behavior and maintain a constant evaluation. The crocodile is monitored by biologists and veterinarians, but none enters the lagoon where it occurs. “They tell me what I have to do and I do it because nobody dares to put on the water“, Chito says, speaking of indications which include medical examinations, Food and even give medications if necessary.

Pocho is eaten between six and eight chickens, some more fish, about three times per week. It has some 50 years of age and could live a few 30 more. In 20 years of life “in family”, the fisherman has never been hurt by the crocodile, that it does not have the same friendly attitude with other people.

Even, each 1 January Chito performs a unique trick: He puts his hand and his head in the huge mouth of Pocho. “I do it because it's the first day of the year and I know he won't eat me that day“, jokes this daring fisherman, with its endless good humour and her singular smile.

EFE

Costa Rica Chito "The Crocodile Man and the famous Crocodile Poncho"

Update

Pocho died in the early hours of Wednesday 12 October of the 2011 for reasons unknown.

Up Siquirres have reached hundreds of letters and calls of condolence. They are aimed at a desolate Chito, the 'compa’ of the animal, as he liked to define the caretaker. It did not take more than a few minutes of chat to realize the great bond that united them: “We had a certain chemistry. Sometimes I would go away for a week and Pocho would be down., but just appeared and peeked through the trees, He fell in action”, we entrusted his friend in the intimacy of the Caribbean estate himself developed to take care of Pocho.
The death of the animal occurred when Chito was thinking about retiring. Not for tiredness of the crocodile (its species can reach the century of life), but because he wanted to close his career with a flourish. I had thought of a special celebration for the 1000 ‘shows’ together with Pocho, before hanging up the loincloth and create brochures for local schools, to show children that man can live in harmony with animals. He even planned to write the crocodile feat in the Guinness Book.’ records.

Via: Elmundo.es

Leave a Comment