Wildlife rangers have finally succeeded in capturing the largest crocodile in the region, weighing in at a whopping 600kg, after a decade of hunting.
The ginormous saltwater croc was victoriously trapped in the Katherine River in the Northern Territory.
The male croc’s body and tail was measured at 4.71 metres long – the same length as an average family car.
The hunt began after rumours circulated of a large dark tail spotted near a local boat ramp 10 years ago, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Rangers Chris Heydon and John Burke from the NT Parks and Wildlife said the gigantic finding in the river system was unusual.
NT Parks and Wildlife rangers Chris Heydon and John Burke (pictured with 600kg croc) said the gigantic finding was unusual as they average a 4.2 metre crocodile most years
‘We average a 4.2 metre croc most years, but never this big,’ Burke said.
They also captured a 2.37 metre croc at a similar location, 60km away from the centre of Katherine.
Despite the heavy mass, the rangers said the croc, who they believe could be over 60-years-old, was not difficult to catch.
‘When they are this big we just sedate them, so there is no chance of us getting chomped,’ ranger Heydon said.
The NT Parks and Wildlife are using the capture to remind the community that swimming in streams and rivers should be avoided.
It’s important to remain vigilant as crocs are still moving around, regardless of it being the dry season, Burke said.
This is not the first capture in the Katherine River this year.
The decade long hunt for the 600kg croc (pictured, right) was successful when they trapped it in the Katherine River, about 60km from the centre of Katherine
Seven crocodiles have already been pulled from the river, including two large saltwater crocs – 3.92 metres and 3.97 metres – that were located in February and March.
In the Northern Territory inland waters, a five-metre saltwater crocodile is considered to be rare.
‘Although this is the biggest we’ve caught in the Katherine River, there are bigger ones out there that come up from the Daly River,’ ranger Burke said.
In 1974 a 6.4m saltwater croc was caught on the Mary River in a net. A crocodile has not been longer than 5 metres long when caught in a trap.