Pocho (crocodile) facts for kids

Pocho (born around 1950–1960, died October 12, 2011) was a famous Costa Rican crocodile. He became well-known for his amazing friendship with Gilberto "Chito" Shedden, a local fisherman. Chito found Pocho very sick and helped him get better. Even after recovering, Pocho chose to stay with Chito instead of going back to the wild. Their special bond lasted over 20 years. They became famous for performing together. A documentary called Touching the Dragon (made in 2013) tells their unique story.

How Pocho Was Found

Chito Shedden, a fisherman and tour guide from Siquirres, Limón Province, Costa Rica, found a very thin and thirsty male crocodile in 1989. The crocodile weighed about 70 kilograms (154 pounds). He found it on the banks of the Reventazón River.

When Chito looked closer, he saw that the crocodile had a serious injury to its head, near its left eye. A local farmer had injured the crocodile because it had been eating some of his cows. Chito decided to take the crocodile home in his boat. Some of his friends helped, but they were a bit scared.

For six months, Chito took great care of the crocodile. He fed it about 30 kilograms (66 pounds) of chicken and fish every week. He even slept near it in his home at night. Chito would also pretend to chew food to encourage the crocodile to eat. He would give it hugs and kisses, talking to it and petting it gently. Chito believed that just giving food wasn't enough. He said, "the crocodile needed my love to regain the will to live."

Chito kept the crocodile hidden in a pond in a nearby forest. The pond had many trees overhead, keeping it secret. He did this until he got special permission from the Costa Rican authorities. This allowed him to legally own and care for the crocodile.

Pocho's Recovery and New Home

After the crocodile got better, Chito decided to release it back into the wild. He named the crocodile Pocho, which means "strong" in the local language of Costa Rica. Chito took Pocho to a nearby river. However, Pocho refused to go back to its natural home.

Because Pocho wanted to stay, Chito decided to let the crocodile live in the water right outside his home. Pocho became a part of Chito's family, just like his wife and daughter.

Chito taught Pocho to respond when his name was called. For more than 20 years, Chito would swim with Pocho in the river near his house. This often happened at night. They would talk and play together, with Chito hugging, kissing, and gently touching Pocho.

Public Performances

For over ten years, Chito and Pocho put on a show every Sunday afternoon. They performed in a large artificial lake, about 100 square meters (1,076 square feet), at Finca Las Tilapias in Siquirres. Tourists from all over the world came to Costa Rica to see them perform in the water.

A documentary called Dragons Feast was made about Chito and Pocho in 2014. It was filmed by Roger Horrocks, a wildlife filmmaker from South Africa, shortly before Pocho passed away. Horrocks thought that the old injury to Pocho's head might have damaged his brain. This damage could have changed the crocodile's normal wild behavior.

Horrocks noted that some people had been attacked by their pet reptiles even after many years. He felt that Chito's life was always in danger when he swam with the crocodile. But Chito disagreed. He said, "After two or three years, something could happen, maybe... but after 23 years of loving each other, nothing has ever happened, so I don't think so."

One of Pocho's special behaviors was to rush at Chito with his mouth open when Chito entered the water. But just before getting too close, Pocho would close his mouth. This allowed Chito to give him a kiss on his snout.

Death and Legacy

Pocho died naturally on October 12, 2011. He passed away in the water outside Chito's home in Siquirres.

After Pocho's death, a public funeral was held for him. Many friends and fans came to say goodbye. Chito sang to Pocho while holding his "hand." Pocho's body was preserved and is now on display behind glass at the Siquirres town museum. Chito visits him there often.

Later, Chito became friends with another crocodile. He named this new crocodile Pocho II. Chito had often seen this crocodile in the river while fishing. He would bring it food, and the crocodile allowed him to pet it. However, it is not certain if the relationship with Pocho II will be as long-lasting as the one Chito had with the first Pocho.

See also

In Spanish: Pocho (cocodrilo) para niños