English Version - Zico, the alligator.

Have you already heard or read about Pantanal? If not, Pantanal is a well-known swamp area in Brazil, with a tropical weather and lots of wild animal, such as jaguars and especially alligators. That's all you have to know. In one of ours "well" planed trips we decided to visit the central area of Brazil. We planned to stay in Cuiabá, the capital of one of Brazilian's biggest state. At first I thought: "It will be fun! It's a big city, so no way of any wild animal try to kill me!" (Yes, I admit I'm a little scared of beasts with huge teeth). Guess what? My most stupidest mistake was to ignore 5 basics pieces of warnings.

After a couple of days resting at the city's downtown we decided to try something more adventurous. Our search for exotic animals. So, knowing a bit about our family do you thing this was a normal searching? No, sure it wasn't!

We stayed in a local Hotel/B&B on the middle of nothing, without internet nor cell phone signal. (This should have been our first warning) In the same day of our arrival, we decided to do a boat trip. However, we were currently at the drought season. (2nd warning). After this unexpected event everybody agreed to take a walk and, if we were lucky, to find a jaguar. I was against it at first, but I was obliged to go (My survival instinct was already screaming, 3rd warning)

Up to here everything was great, everybody laughing and having fun, though the sun burning the top of our heads. Suddenly, our guide - who looked exactly like a Kenyan runner - decided to show us a "little"" and "pet" alligator. Everybody accepted. Reaching a riverbank we all noticed a half-eaten alligator floating on the water (4th warning). However, our attention was pulled to the guide, who was kneeling and repeatedly calling: "Zico, Zico, Zico!" (5th warning. After all, which alligator has the name "Zico"???!!)

Our first reaction: Of course, laugh! Buut, we made an unacceptable mistake - to doubt of the powers of Pied Piper of Hamelin (What a name it has in English!) that one who attracted mice just by playing his flout. Suddenly, we realized the water moving and two black-round eyes emerging out of the water. Everybody was shocked and paralyzed, even more after seeing that the "little" animal - which looked more like an ancient dinosaur, measuring up to 2 meters! (or 6,5 feet for the Americans) - was getting out of the water. You must be imagining: "What was your reaction?". Run like crazy rats trying to survive to a lion! But one of us should be point out: Henrique, Andre's brother. He showed of himself as being "remarkably brave", but instead of helping to control the animal he was the one who rand faster and further. Not to mention that he even tried to push our grandmother to the mouth of the alligator to have some more seconds to escape!

After some liters of adrenaline running on our arteries, Zico stopped. The guide, I think trying to project confidence, asked who wanted to take a picture holding the alligator's tail. Guess who was the first? My dad! Up to here, OK, but he insisted to make me take a picture. So I went. I crouched to grab the tail, but, suddenly, the Tyrannosaurus turned his head violently trying to eat my hand!! Alright, after seeing the pictures I figured out it just turned a bit it's head, but at the moment I felt really attached!

In conclusion, I almost died, from the crocodiles bite or the hearth attack I almost had. However, I appeared at the photo with my 10 finger (Thanks God!) and that's what counts. After this crazy experience I consider myself capable of giving you, tourists and Brazilian's inhabitants: If you happen to visit Pantanal, unless you are an alligator-surfing champion, do NOT disturb Zico!

                  by Mateus Santucci