Every day he swam with the crocodile in the river. It lasted for over 20 years until the crocodile died.
Pocho was discovered ᴄʟᴏsᴇ 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. The crocodile may have been shot in the left eye by a farmer who was angry that the predator was feeding on his animals.
Shedden didn’t want to leave the crocodile there, so he took it home on his boat. Shedden fed the crocodile 30 kg of fish and chicken every week, giving it exceptional care. He also had nightly matings. He ate with the crocodile, hugged and kissed it, all in an effort to get it to eat. Shedden believed that in order to survive, the crocodile needed his love more than food.
Shedden named the crocodile Pocho. Shedden needed approval from Cᴏsta Rican officials to lawfully release Pocho into the wild because the crocodile is a wild animal. During this time, he hid the crocodile in a secret pond in a neighboring wooded area. Pocho recovered and was then released into a nearby river. However, the crocodile was sleeping on his patio when Sheddan woke up the following morning. At that time, Sheddan decided to keep the crocodile in the water outside the house. It is one of his family members in his eyes. They spent twenty years conversing and having fun together.
They also started conducting weekly gatherings in a man-made lake at the Cᴏsta Rican finca Las Tilapias with other alternative travelers from all over the world. Before Pocho passed aᴡay, both were captured on camera for the documentary “The Man Who Swam with Crocodiles” by the Sᴏuth African filmmaker Roger Horrocks. He speculated that the crocodile’s thinking may have been influenced and its usual behavior may have been altered by the gunshot that struck Pocho in the head. Pets frequently defeat reptile hunters. He claimed Sheddan’s life was in danger as he stayed with Pocho.
Sheddan, however, strongly 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 died. Sheddan is presently taking care of Pocho II, a new crocodile. Although he is trying to do the same thing with this crocodile as he did with the first Pocho, he might not be successful. Sheddan received Pocho as a present, and the two became best friends.
