located 250 miles south of Cancun and 40
nautical miles off the eastern coast of
Mexico nestled in a protective barrier
reef this tiny island chain is home to
over 500 of the most genetically pure
crocodiles on earth join us as we
venture into the pristine waters of the
Caribbean to explore the fascinating
world of the crocodiles of the Banco
Chinchorro in this episode we'll look
past their intimidating appearance and
see what makes these crocodiles so
captivating at first glance waiting to
water occupied by the largest reptile on
earth might seem like a bad idea but if
you're one of the world's few crocodile
guides it's all in a day's work
Matias understands my people are fearful
of crocodiles but for him fear has given
way to affection and now his heart races
for a different reason what do you love
most about crocodiles
what I love the most about them is
getting to know them a little bit better
and learning their behaviors they're
super different they're like people who
are super different to each other as you
know already now they all have different
names
you get gambits I know if he comes in
his left front leg it's gonna be always
a little bit like this so you can
instantly recognize him like that and
what I love about that one is if he sits
there in front of us suddenly like a big
stream of bubbles start getting out of
his nose which is really funny to look
at
do you think people leave with a new
found respect for crocodiles and
crocodilian species I've never met
anyone didn't completely change their
idea do you think maybe just maybe then
that they might contribute what they can
to help protect the species or their
habitat exactly because they understand
the animal now a bit more no everywhere
they're gonna react the same or they've
seen the nice part of them too if I was
going to discover what Mattias calls the
nice part of crocodiles there was only
one way I quickly realized that I held a
lifetime of exaggerated fears and
misunderstandings I was really hesitant
when I was there because I had my own
perceptions even though I've swam with
sharks and worked for snakes I'm very
passionate about misunderstood animals
but it was amazing how once I got in I
really felt comfortable with the staffs
protocols and the safety measures and
the fact that the staff really
understood the behavior of the crocodile
that I warmed up to it pretty quickly
you see that crocodile come up and
you're like oh this is a bit
intimidating it was just such an amazing
opportunity that I never thought I would
ever get to have and it definitely maybe
look at crocodiles a little bit
differently yes still see them as wild I
still see them as potentially dangerous
but oh my gosh they are so beautiful
wildlife expedition leader Amanda cotton
has reconciled her fears and shares
Matisse's love for these ancient
reptiles I've always been drawn to
highly misunderstood animals I love
sharks
I love anything that's big that's may be
construed as ugly or different or scary
those are the things that I would I love
shooting as a photographer and I like
showing a different side to them so
trying to get these misconceptions or
these preconceived ideas that people
have of these animals and sharing a
beautiful side to them or a different
side that we maybe thought of before
this is a fierce predator this is not an
animal that you get in the water with
lightly and people understand that when
they come out here so there's a lot of
fear if you have a negative perception
of something allowing yourself to
question that and that's what these
animals do when you put yourself in the
water with these animals everything that
you thought before the second you got in
the water with them you begin to
question and it's such a beautiful thing
to see people stop and question why they
thought the way that they did and you
can see the wheels turning and it's like
planting seeds they're positive seeds
they're beautiful seeds and you know
that those people are going to walk away
from that encounter those experiences
with this newfound
curiosity and it's not just towards the
crocodiles its towards everything there
is something remarkably endearing about
these prehistoric predators coming
face-to-face with him I quickly saw past
their giant teeth and their armor like
scales and connected with a species that
walked with the dinosaurs after 200
million years they are the epitome of
adaptation and survival an
accomplishment worthy of all the respect
and admiration that our species can
extend to theirs at the very least maybe
crocodiles can remind us that beauty is
truly in the eye of the beholder
you