Strange relationships between people and wild animals are common, but seeing a man make friends with a massive crocodile is remarkable. This good-hearted Costa Rican person thinks that all life is valuable. After seeing it in distress on the riverbed with terrible injuries, he acted quickly to save the defenseless crocodile. An extraordinary and unparalleled friendship between a human and a wild animal transpired.
In 1989, local fisherman and animal enthusiast Gilberto “Chito” Shedden met Pacho, a crocodile in Costa Rica. After suffering injuries from a cattle farmer, Pacho appeared to be dying, but Gilberto intervened to save him. After loading the 1200-pound crocodile into his boat and returning to Siquirres, Limón province, Gilberto took Pacho to his house and healed him.
The kind-hearted fisherman raised the defenceless crocodile as if it were his own for the next six months. To ensure its full recovery, Chito fed his new friend more than 65 pounds of food every day. But Pacho needed more than just food!
Chito told Tico Times that the crocodile needed his love more than sustenance to bring it back to life. He wanted the crocodile to feel loved by another human and show that humans can be kind and friendly to animals.
Pacho’s condition improved due to the tenderness and love its caregiver provided. After that, Chito let it return to the wild, but it wouldn’t go. After that, the crocodile and Chito grew close and lived together daily for 22 years. The saved crocodile resided in the pond close to Gilberto’s home.
Renowned for their audacious crocodile antics, Chito and Pacho gained worldwide popularity in the 2000s following their appearances in the documentary “The Man Who Swims With Crocodiles.” They have entertained guests at the artificial lake at Finca Las Tilapias for almost a decade. Even though it might appear impossible for a man to swim and communicate with such a giant reptile, Chito was always confident in his safety while he was with his devoted companion.
At over 60, the adored crocodile died naturally on October 12, 2011. Nevertheless, its endearing relationship with the guy who saved it will continue forever.
