Costa Rica Buries Crocodile Friend Today

Grief Over Crocodile Death In Siquirres

Today the small town of Siquirres Costa Rica will gather in sorrow to bury their beloved friend, Pocho the 1000 lb crocodile who passed away earlier this week from natural causes. It will be a day of sadness for Gilberto Shedden, known as “Chito ” who lost his friend of almost 20 years. 

Many articles have been written about the unlikely friendship which began with the hope of survival when Gilberto found a near death crocodile who was shot in the eye, malnourished and on the verge of death. The ending to this story, a relationship that lasted almost twenty years based on love, friendship and gratitude. In his own words, Gilberto’s reason for nursing the wounded friend back to health, “I just wanted him to feel that someone loved him, that not all humans are bad”.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnWuOwewZSM

Beginning to work with Pocho after about ten years of knowing each other, their unique relationship began to forge. The two became comfortable with each other in the water and began to “play” together and the rest is the history of this unusual bond between a man and his crocodile.

Unlikely Friendship Forged

Pocho died earlier this week of natural causes at the age of 50. His true friend, Chito will miss his companion who had a friendship with a crocodile for 20 years. For Chito is is a great loss and can be summarized in this quotation by Anais Nin, “Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” Our condolences go out to Gilbert “Chito” Shedden and the town of Siquirres. Thank you Pocho for letting us observe your truly remarkable personality!