In the heart of Costa Rica, where the lush jungle kisses the banks of the Tárcoles River, a man named Gilberto “Chito” Shedden became a legend. Not for conquering nature, but for forming a bond with one of its most feared creatures—the American crocodile. Known today as the “Crocodile Whisperer of Tárcoles,” Chito’s story with a crocodile named Pocho is one of the most astonishing man-animal friendships the world has ever witnessed.
Chito was a fisherman by trade, born in the small town of Siquirres. One day, while walking near the Tárcoles River—famous for hosting one of the world’s highest concentrations of crocodiles—he came across a motionless croc floating near the banks. It had been shot in the head and left to die. Most would have walked away, but not Chito. Driven by a powerful sense of compassion, he loaded the nearly lifeless crocodile into his boat and took it home. He named it Pocho.
What followed was not just an act of rescue, but of deep commitment. Chito fed Pocho raw chicken, treated his wounds with homemade remedies, and even slept beside him at night to keep him calm. Over months of care and companionship, Pocho began to recover—not just physically, but emotionally, responding to Chito’s presence with visible trust. Eventually, the crocodile followed simple commands, acknowledged his name, and even allowed Chito to swim alongside him.
As word of the unusual friendship spread, people didn’t believe it—until they saw it with their own eyes. In a shallow lake near his home, Chito and Pocho would perform weekly shows, where the massive croc would let Chito kiss him, feed him by hand, and even wrestle playfully in the water. Crowds gathered, jaws dropped. Biologists, vets, and reporters confirmed there was no trickery—Pocho wasn’t drugged or trained using fear. He was simply bonded to Chito in a way that defied logic and rewrote what we thought we knew about crocodiles.
The Tárcoles River, known globally as a hotspot for crocodile viewing tours, became synonymous with this remarkable duo. But beyond the spectacle, Chito’s message was clear: crocodiles are not the mindless killers they’re made out to be. “They’re intelligent,” he insisted. “They remember kindness.” While no one is suggesting people rush to befriend a wild crocodile, Chito and Pocho’s relationship challenged the narrative of crocodiles being incapable of forming emotional bonds.
Pocho passed away in 2011 of natural causes. His funeral was attended by locals, media, and wildlife enthusiasts alike. A statue now stands in his honour in Siquirres—a reminder of the crocodile who became Costa Rica’s unlikely ambassador of misunderstood wildlife. Chito has since attempted to bond with other crocodiles, but he openly admits, “There will never be another Pocho.”
Today, the story of the Crocodile Whisperer continues to fascinate and attract tourists to Costa Rica. Visitors to the Tárcoles River still ask about Chito and Pocho during crocodile-spotting tours. Their bond is a powerful example of empathy transcending species. It offers a truly wild tale of connection in one of the world’s most biodiverse corners, as well as the breakthroughs themselves.
