The world's largest captive crocodile died on Saturday at Australia Zoo. According to his guardians' calculations, he was at least 110 years old. His health condition deteriorated in mid-October.
The reptile was called Cassius, was almost 5.5 meters long and weighed almost a ton. This huge saltwater crocodile has lived at the Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat on an island off the coast of Queensland, Australia, since it was captured in the north of the country in the 1980s. In 2011, it was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest crocodile living in captivity.
“He was a respected member of the family”
His guardians said goodbye to him in a social media post, where they wrote that “he was our dearest pal” and “respected family member.”
The founder of the sanctuary, George Craig, bought the animal in 1987, Australian broadcaster ABC reported. Center staff noted that Cassius felt a strong bond with his owner because a month after Craig moved to the mainland, to Cairns, the elderly crocodile died. His health condition deteriorated on October 15. The friends shared their lives for 37 years.
When in the wild, Cassius was known for catching and eating cattle and destroying the drives of nearby boats.
Main photo source: Shutterstock