CHANGING THE FACE OF BEAUTY
A good friend of mine sent me this miraculous story last week and I thought it was something we could all benefit from hearing about.
To me it shows that love will prevail in every circumstance.
The CROC Story...
Rather than trying to tame wild stallions, fearless Costa Rican fisherman Chito prefers a playful wrestle in the water with his best pal Pocho - a deadly 17ft crocodile.
The 52-year-old daredevil draws gasps of amazement from onlookers by wading chest-deep into the water, then whistling for his 980lb buddy - and giving him an affectionate hug.
Crazy Chito says: "Pocho is my best friend. This is a very dangerous routine but we have a good relationship. He will look me in the eye and not attack me.
"It is too dangerous for anyone else to come in the water. It is only ever the two of us."
Chito made friends with the croc after finding him with a gunshot wound on the banks of the Central American state's Parismina river 20 years ago.
He had been shot in the left eye by a cattle farmer and was close to death.
But Chito enlisted the help of several pals to load the massive reptile into his boat.
He says: "When I found Pocho in the river he was dying, so I brought him into my house.
"He was very skinny, weighing only around 150lb I gave him chicken and fish and medicine for six months to help him recover.
"I stayed by Pocho's side while he was ill, sleeping next to him at night. I just wanted him to feel that somebody loved him, that not all humans are bad.
"It meant a lot of sacrifice. I had to be there every day. I love all animals - especially ones that have suffered." It took years before Chito felt that Pocho had bonded with him enough to get closer to the animal.
He says: "After a decade I started to work with him. At first it was slow, slow. I played with him a bit, slowly doing more.
"Then I found out that when I called his name he would come over to me."
At one point during his recovery, Chito left the croc in a lake near his house. But as he turned to walk away, to his amazement Pocho got out of the water and began to follow him home.
Chito recalls: "That convinced me the crocodile could be tame." But when he first fearlessly waded into the water with the giant reptile his family was so horrified they couldn't bear to watch. So instead, he took to splashing around with Pocho when they were asleep.
Four years ago Chito showed some of his tricks to friends, including getting the animal to close his eyes on command, and they convinced him to go public with a show.
Now he swims and plays with Pocho as well as feeding him at the lake near his home in the lowland tropical town of Sarapiqui where they have become a local tourist attraction.
But Chito only charges a few dollars to watch the breathtaking crocodile show, claiming he does not want to cash in on Pocho.
He says: "He's my friend, I don't want to treat him like a slave or exploit him."
"I am happy because I rescued him and he is happy with me because he has everything he needs."
'If kindness and love can move and heal a deadly man eating crocodile, imagine what it can do in the life of everyone around you.'
BE BEAUTIFUL BE FREE
Gregory Landsman
Digg This!
|
Stumble It!
|
Save to del.icio.us
|
Technorati Links
|
Twit This!
|
Share on Facebook
My Definition of REAL BEAUTY is…
B alance in life unfolds from the
inside out
E nthusiasm lies within the way you
think and feel about yourself and life
A cceptance is the path to making
peace with yourself and others
U nderstanding who we are gives us
clarity and wisdom
T rust attunes your heart and mind
to know what you want
Y ou possess BEAUTY and all that
it takes to create the life and love you deserve
‘Beauty is about feeling more,
healing more, living more and loving more’