Chito & Pocho

Shedden, of 50 years, known by his friends as "Chito", has gained the nickname of "Tarzan Tico" (Tico is the nickname how the Costa Ricans are known themselves in the region), he plays with his friend “Pocho” (the crocodile), makes roll with the crocodile on its back, pushes its head of sharpened teeth outside the water and it tenderly kisses until it on the nose. Even for Shedden, their games with Pocho are much more that a spectacle and demonstrate the friendship that has established with the crocodile, a reptile with a ferocious reputation. Also “Chito” don’t wants his friend as a slave.

Its friendship with Pocho began 17 years ago when Shedden found to the American crocodile - then of two meters to the drift in a river and with a bullet in its head. He took the hurt crocodile to its house and took care until it recovered. It left soon it in a near lake, but, for its surprise, the animal left the water it followed and it until his house. So, hedden got convinced that the reptile wanted a new friendship with him.

For the scare of its family, Shedden began to put to the water with the crocodile and discovered that it liked that it played with him. It even taught to him to close the eyes when is become ordained it.

Now, multitudes are weekly going to see Shedden - that it so only wears to positions his short pants and a hairband style commands to act with the gigantic reptile in a small lake near to his restaurant.
The fisherman gives to return to Pocho several times while he rubs the white belly of the crocodile. The gigantic tail of the reptile leaves the water completely and hits the surface with a strong noise.

After climbing to him in the water, Shedden attracts the crocodile towards the border, it is put of four legs and it sticks his nose to his snout.

One calculates that Pocho is about 50 years old. The American crocodiles that live from Florida to Ecuador are less aggressive than their pairs of the Nile or the Australians and get to live up to 70 years in captivity.