The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Simplemost may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.
Wildlife rangers in northern Australia captured a massive 600-kilogram (1,300-pound) crocodile after first spotting it nearly a decade ago.
The crocodile, estimated to be more than 60 years old, was found lurking near a boat ramp in the Katherine River. At 4.71 meters (15.45 feet), the croc is the longest-ever trapped in the region.
The previous record holder was a 4.6 meter-long croc captured in 2011.
Though the average saltwater crocodile is about 5 meters (17 feet) long, according to National Geographic, captures of this size are rare, park authorities said.
The Search
Wildlife officials have been searching for the crocodile since it was first spotted in 2010, according to Tracey Duldig, the acting director of Wildlife Operations in the Northern Territory. They sought to capture and isolate it so in order to prevent it from “interacting with humans.”
The reptile will now “be taken to a croc farm in the Katherine region,” she said.
Saltwater crocodiles — affectionately referred to as salties — can be spotted throughout the Northern Territory. According to a Jul. 15 tweet by the American Museum of Natural History, the saltwater crocodile is the largest reptilian species alive today. The museum noted that the saltwater croc’s jaw is also one of the strongest of any living animal.
The largest reptilian species alive today? That would be the saltwater crocodile. Males can grow up to over 20 feet long & weigh in at over 1,000 lbs! This croc also has a skull-crushing bite—one of the strongest of any living animal. pic.twitter.com/NUjW5bCYJV
— American Museum of Natural History (@AMNH) July 16, 2018
So far this year, 187 of them have been captured in the Top End — the northernmost part of the Northern Territory, according to the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife website, which advises visitors to be “crocwise.”
“Croc danger is real. Do not become complacent or risk your life,” it warns.
Halloween Fun With Crocodiles
Of course, while this particular story about crocodiles is real-life scary, there is also a way to have a bit of fun with the animal’s ferocity. In case you missed this viral video of a dog wearing a crocodile costume and giving people a good scare, then you need to check it out — it makes for a pretty good laugh.
The adorable French bulldog makes a good case for a Halloween prank, right? If you want to consider the look for your own pooch, then you should take a look at these crocodile costumes made for pets. Take, for example, this getup for $13.99 on Amazon.com):
Adorably scary in all of the best crocodile ways, right? Check out more crocodile costumes here.
Written by Bani Sapra for CNN. Additional reporting by Simplemost staff.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.