People are very likely to believe that reptiles are low on the evolutionary scale. Most of us have been taught that the reptile’s brain is the most primitive one among vertebrates, able just to survive, eat, and sleep.

However, assumptions are not always true. Here is a story of a famous crocodile called Poncho. Seventeen years ago, Gilberto Sheedan found a three-meter-long crocodile dying in the shore of the Parismina River, in the Caribbean Province of Limon, Costa Rica. The crocodile had been shot, probably by a cattle farmer protecting his herd. Gilberto got the help of several friends to lift the reptile into his boat to take it home. He named it “Poncho” and took care of him with medicine, food and lots of love and attention. “I just wanted him to feel that someone loved him, that not all humans are bad… I love all animals, especially ones that have suffered,” said Gilberto to Tico Times interviewer.

During the recovery process, Gilberto stayed by Poncho’s side, even sleeping with him at night. After Gilberto felt that Poncho had bonded with him, he started swimming with the crocodile. And, so the friendship began.

Gilberto is 50 years old and so is the estimated age of Poncho. They play together swimming side by side. Some commands Poncho follows include lifting his head and tail from the water, rolling over, and even allowing Gilberto to bite his fang. When Poncho is in a really good mood, Gilberto says, he’ll venture putting his head all the way into the reptile’s mouth, between his massive jaws.

Master always reminds us of the divine nature of sentient beings. God’s love is inside every single creature. Animals are able to love and respect humans, sometimes even better than we do among ourselves.