Dangerous friendship: meet the man who swims daily with a 5-meter crocodile

What's the most dangerous pet you've ever had? Whatever it is, it sure doesn't come close to being as dangerous as a five-meter, multi-toothed 500-kilogram crocodile!

Yet this is exactly the pet this Costa Rica man, Gilberto Shedden, has. Gilberto swims with the gigantic and scary crocodile in the river everyday. In fact, he has swam with it everyday for the past 20 years.

Sounds incredible, right? Yet it's true. Gilberto rescued the crocodile while it was still very young, little, and vulnerable. It had multiple injuries and would certainly have died were it not for Gilberto's kind intervention.

He nursed it back to health and it seems the crocodile has never forgotten. It is very affectionate towards Gilberto and has never tried to attack or harm him even once in 20 years.

Animal experts have been at a loss to explain this strong bond between a crocodile and a human. This is because crocodiles are known to have small brains and therefore rely on instinct rather than reason.

They have therefore constantly warned Gilberto that the dangerous animal could "forget" their special bond in a moment of instinct and harm or even kill him. Gilberto is however confident that this wouldn't happen, and fortunately, it hasn't in over 20 years.

So, next time you think you have a mean-looking pet, just remember Gilberto has beaten you to it!

Source: KAMI.com.gh