I've heard a lot of strange pets that come to be a member of the family, but gosh -- I really had to share this story because it's just so remarkable.
To be upfront with you, this was sent to me via email so I have no way to give credit to the individual that wrote the story and included the photos. So, I will share what was shared with me verbatim.
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 15:54:00 +0700Subject: Fwd: FW: This Is
A Pet???? Remarkable story Great Scott!! This is unbelievable.
Looks like you can
tame just about anything when you think of it, who would ever have tried ?
Bet he feeds him lots of food before he gets in the water with him.
Great Scott!! This is unbelievable.
IF
you thought the legend of the horse whisperer was impressive, here's an animal
tale with even more bite.
Rather
than trying to tame wild stallions, fearless Costa Rican fisherman Chito
prefers a playful wrestle in the water with his best pal Pocho - a deadly 17ft
crocodile.
The
52-year-old daredevil draws gasps of amazement from onlookers by wading
chest-deep into the water, then whistling for his 980lb buddy - and giving him
an affectionate hug.
Crazy
Chito says: "Pocho is my best friend. This is a very dangerous routine but
we have a good relationship. He will look me in the eye and not attack me.
"It
is too dangerous for anyone else to come in the water. It is only ever the two
of us."
Chito
made friends with the croc after finding him with a gunshot wound on the banks
of the Central American state's Parismina river 20 years ago..
He
had been shot in the left eye by a cattle farmer and was close to death.
But
Chito enlisted the help of several pals to load the massive reptile into his
boat.
He
says: "When I found Pocho in the river he was dying, so I brought him into
my house.
"He was very skinny, weighing
only around 150lb I gave him chicken and fish and medicine for six months to
help him recover.
"I
stayed by Pocho's side while he was ill, sleeping next to him at night. I just
wanted him to feel that somebody loved him, that not all humans are bad.
"It
meant a lot of sacrifice. I had to be there every day. I love all animals -
especially ones that have suffered."
It
took years before Chito felt that Pocho had bonded with him enough to get
closer to the animal.
He
says: "After a decade I started to work with him. At first it was slow,
slow. I played with him a bit, slowly doing more.
"Then
I found out that when I called his name he would come over to me.."
At
one point during his recovery, Chito left the croc in a lake near his house.
But as he turned to walk away, to his amazement Pocho got out of the water and
began to follow him home.
Chito
recalls: "That convinced me the crocodile could be tame." But when he
first fearlessly waded into the water with the giant reptile his family was so
horrified they couldn't bear to watch. So instead, he took to splashing around
with Pocho when they were asleep.
Four
years ago Chito showed some of his tricks to friends, including getting the
animal to close his eyes on command, and they convinced him to go public with a
show.
Now
he swims and plays with Pocho as well as feeding him at the lake near his home
in the lowland tropical town of Sarapiqui.
The
odd couple have now become a major tourist attraction, with several tour
operators, including Crocodile Adventures, taking visitors on touring cruises
to see the pair.
On
the Crocodile Adventures website it describes the spectacle as: "One of
the most amazing things that no cruise ship passenger will want to miss, the
adventure show between the man and the crocodile."
Clever
croc ... Pocho answers to his name
American
crocodiles, which inhabit North, Central and South America, can live to around
70 years old. It is estimated that Pocho is around 50 - almost the same age as
his owner.
They
are also said to be less aggressive than their Nile or Australian
counterparts.
Chito,
whose real name is Gilberto Shedden, was given his nickname
by friends, who also call him "Tarzan Tico" - Tico being a familiar
word for a Costa Rican.
And
he certainly plays up to the name, wearing a tattered pair of leopard-print
shorts for his half-hour performances with Pocho.
A
keen conservationist, he also offers boat tours, where he eagerly points out a
variety of wildlife.
But
he only charges a few dollars to watch the breathtaking crocodile show,
claiming he does not want to cash in on Pocho.
He
says: "He's my friend, I don't want to treat him like a slave or exploit
him.
"I am happy because I rescued him and
he is happy with me because he has everything he needs."
