An Indonesian fisherman declares his affection for a 4-meter saltwater crocodile after 26 years of marriage.
Mr. Ambo, 59, is a fisherman from the Indonesian city of Bontang, East Kalimantan, who became famous in the media after declaring his unusual friendship with a giant saltwater crocodile giant, named Rizka.
Mr. Ambo with a female crocodile named Rizka. (Photo: Fitriyani).
According to Ambo, for the past 26 years, since it was first found in the waters of Pupuk Kaltim, the animal has always been a part of his life. At that time, Ambo was fishing, when he noticed the crocodile swimming after his boat.
At first, Ambo didn't care about the animal, and continued sailing home. However, when he got there, he discovered that the strange crocodile had swam with him all the way.
He took some food and threw it into the water and was surprised when the crocodile was completely "happy" to enjoy. "It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship that lasted 26 years," Ambo said.
"If I don't see it in two or three days, I'll drop everything to find it," Ambo added. "I consider it as part of my family."
Saltwater crocodiles are aggressive crocodiles and can attack humans. (Photo: Fitriyani).
Over time, these two unlikely "friends" became really close: Rizka often swam near Ambo's boat, and didn't leave until he stroked its back. The crocodile also comes to his house whenever it is hungry, and Ambo is happy to share his food with the animal.
"I usually feed Rizka three chickens. After being fed, it will swim away," Ambo said. "When I left the village, I had to tell my neighbors to feed Rizka while I was away."
Once, Ambo had to go on a business trip for about 2 years. The villagers then took turns taking care of the crocodile, feeding it. The crocodile has even become part of the community and people consider it the guardian of the village.
Saltwater crocodiles are commonly found in northern Australia, throughout Southeast Asia and the South Pacific islands. They are also found in South Asian countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, etc.
This is the largest crocodile and also the largest living reptile on Earth. Adult saltwater crocodiles can grow up to 6m long and weigh up to a ton. They are inherently extremely aggressive crocodiles and can attack people to eat meat.
