The Only Real Power is Love

[Guest guest]

Whether a person likes animals, reptiles or not, this really is amazing, just

goes to show what some humankindness can achieve.

 

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 inthe 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 CentralAmerican 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 that 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 nocruise 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-hourperformances 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. "

 

pics @ from: http://office-humour.co.uk/item/13027/