Nothing compares to having a 500-kilogram, five-meter-long crocodile, one of the most dangerous creatures ever. It’s hard to imagine, but Gilberto Shedden, a man from Costa Rica, owned a huge and dreadful crocodile by the name of Pocho. Every day he used it to swim in the river. They engaged in that for about 20 years.
Pocho was discovered dead close to financial organizations in the nearby Reventazon River by Shedden, a fisherman, tour guide, and naturalist from Siquirres in the Limón province of Costa Rica. A farmer who was upset that the reptile was preying on his cattle may have shot the crocodile in the left eye to death.
Shedden carried the crocodile home on his boat since he didn’t want to leave it there. To soothe himself, he made the choice to bring the crocodile home. Shedden gave the crocodile excellent care, feeding it 30 kg of fish and chicken each week. He also had nightly matings. He replaced the food the crocodile consumed with his mouth, hugged and kissed it, all in an effort to get it to eat. Shedden claimed that in order to survive, the crocodile required his love more than food.
Crocodile named Pocho by Shedden. Shedden need approval from Costa Rican officials to lawfully release Pocho into the wild because the crocodile is a wild animal. He concealed the crocodile in a hidden pond in a nearby woodland during this time. Pocho was released into a neighboring river after healing. The crocodile was, however, lying on Sheddan’s patio when he awoke the following morning. Sheddan made the decision to keep the crocodile in the water outside the house at that point. He saw it like a member of his family. They talked and had fun together for twenty years. Even its own name can elicit a response from the crocodile.
At the Costa Rican finca Las Tilapias, they also began holding weekly meetings with other alternative travelers from across the world in a man-made lake. Shortly before Pocho passed away, both were captured on camera for the South African filmmaker Roger Horrocks’ documentary, “The Man Who Swam with Crocodiles.” He asserted that the crocodile’s intellect and regular behavior may have been altered by the gunshot that struck Pocho in the head. Pets frequently defeat reptile hunters. He claimed that since Sheddan was with Pocho, his life was in danger.
Sheddan, however, vehemently disagreed, stating that after 23 years of mutual care, that was not feasible and that if it had only been two or three years, something might have happened. A public funeral was organized for Pocho when the crocodile passed away of natural causes in front of Sheddan’s home. Sheddan is presently taking care of Pocho II, a brand-new crocodile. Although he is attempting to establish the same bond with this crocodile as he did with the first Pocho, he might not be successful. Sheddan received Pocho as a present, and the two got along famously.
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