THE world’s biggest crocodile has suddenly died at 120 years old, a wildlife sanctuary said on Saturday.
Cassius, measuring an incredible 18ft long and weighing more than a ton, lived tucked away on an island off the coast of Australia.
He was captured in the Northern Territory, Australia and then transported to Green Island in the 80s[/caption]
The scaly beast once prowled the nation’s waterways by attacking boats and snatching cattle.
Cassius then became the star attraction at the Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat on Green Island, off the coast of Cairns, Queensland.
But Cassius had been in declining health since October 15, the sanctuary said on Facebook.
“He was very old and believed to be living beyond the years of a wild Croc,” a post by the organisation read.
“Cassius will be deeply missed, but our love and memories of him will remain in our hearts forever.”
On October 14, Cassius received a health check from Professor Sally Isberg of the Centre Crocodile Research, and everything appeared to be fine.
But a few days later, he started refusing eating.
Caretakers discovered him dead in his enclosure at 11 am on Saturday, The New Zealand Herald reports.
Cassius, who died after 37 years in captivity being cared for by his captor and keeper, is now being remembered as a “sweetheart”.
One of his former keepers, Toody Scott, told AAP: “He had these big eyes that you’d look into and you could look into his soul.
“He always had this spark about him, which is very different to working with other crocs.”
The group’s website said he had lived at the sanctuary since 1987 after being transported from the neighbouring Northern Territory, where crocodiles are a key part of the region’s tourist industry.
Missing his right leg and part of his snout and tail, Cassius lived in a maritime zoo off the coast of Australia[/caption]
The beast weighted more than a ton[/caption]
Missing his right leg, Cassius was estimated to be 120 years old, however scientists aren’t sure how old the gnarly beast is.
The saltwater crocodile held the Guinness World Records title as the world’s largest crocodile in captivity.
He took the title after the 2013 death of Philippines crocodile Lolong, who measured 6.17 m (20 ft 3 in) long, according to Guinness.
However, he regained his title after the death of Lolong in February 2013.
Considered a problem croc in 1984, Cassius was captured near a cattle ranch on the Finniss River, southwest of Darwin, in the Northern Territory.
The aggressive reptile was accused of snatching cattle and attacking boats.
At the time of his capture, Cassius was estimated to be between 30 and 80 years old, and was the biggest crocodile ever caught alive in Australia.
After he was captured in 1984, he was transported to Green Island in 1987 by crocodile hunter George Craig, who had opened Marineland Melanesia in 1969.
From there, an almost four-decade friendship began between Craig and Cassius.
Five facts about the saltwater crocodile
- Saltwater crocodiles are the largest crocodile species in the world, and the largest living reptile in the world. Other species of crocodile include: Nile Crocodile, American Crocodile, Freshwater Crocodile, Gharial Crocodile and the American Alligator.
- Male saltwater crocodiles have been recorded at lengths of 23 feet. Females are much smaller, growing to be about 10 feet long. The worlds largest crocodile, Cassius, resides in a wildlife park in Queensland, Australia.
- Saltwater crocodiles communicate using several sounds, including barking, hissing, growling and chirps.
- Crocodiles are as old as dinosaurs. Saltwater Crocodiles are one of the oldest creatures to walk the planet. They first appeared over 240 million years ago, during the time of the dinosaurs. While others have evolved into different shapes and forms, the crocs stuck have stuck to the same structure for the last 200 million years.
- Crocodiles lay eggs. Saltwater Crocodiles breed during the wet season, and females can lay up to 50 eggs, which they build nests for along the nearby river banks. The eggs incubate for around 3 months before hatching. Only 1 per cent of hatchlings survive into adulthood
Keeper Toody Scott, Craig’s grandson, said: “They did have a close bond.
“George would quietly sit with Cassius for hours on end.
“In the last couple of years, George has been getting around on a mobility scooter and every time he came near the enclosure, Cassius would come over to him.”
Early in October, Craig, 94, went into an assisted living facility.
According to Scott, there may be “some kind of correlation” between Cassius’s loneliness and his partner’s absence.
He told AAP: “Cassius was very aware of George and his presence.”
Even though it was unexpected, Scott said it was difficult to inform his grandfather that Cassius had died because crocodiles often remain ill for months at a time.
“They’re just really good at surviving,” he said.
“But George knows that time catches up with everyone.”
