World’s largest croc still growing as it hits stunning age milestone: experts

An Australian wildlife park claims to have the world’s largest – and probably oldest – crocodile in captivity, estimated to have lived for 120 years, with a lot extra time to go, in keeping with his handlers. 

“Cassius is such a powerful, stunning boy, and he’s clearly acquired a significant historical past to inform us,” Sally Isberg, managing director on the Heart for Crocodile Analysis in Australia, mentioned in a video interview shared with Fox Information Digital.

“He’s a contented, wholesome boy,” she added. “He has such a persona. He will get referred to as over to at least one aspect of the pen and is simply blissful to wander over… he’s a fully fascinating character.”

Captured in 1984 close to the town of Darwin and transferred to Inexperienced Island a couple of years later, the crocodile Cassius has lived on the Marineland Crocodile Park for over 35 years. Estimated to have lived a minimum of 110 years, some specialists have mentioned Cassius may very well be as previous as 120, which might push the identified limits of crocodile longevity.

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Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat founder and proprietor George Craig feeds Cassius. (Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat)

What makes Cassius so uncommon is that he has continued to develop regardless of his exceptional age: Throughout an annual checkup this 12 months, Professor Graeme Webb decided that Cassius had grown one other 13 inches since his earlier go to almost 20 years earlier, now measuring a whopping 17 ft and 11.75 inches.

“He was a big old gnarly crocodile then… crocs of that measurement will not be regular,” Webb informed MIX 102.3 in Australia, saying that rising at such a sophisticated age “is uncommon for a giant croc.” 

Webb had decided throughout his first go to that Cassius was at between 30 and 80 years previous, which might imply he may very well be a minimum of 120, although there isn’t any approach to totally decide the croc’s age – particularly given his uncommon measurement and progress.

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Cassius, the world’s largest crocodile in captivity, may very well be 120 years previous. (Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat)

Marineland informed Fox Information Digital that the annual evaluation is “very fingers off” as using restraints could cause stress because of a heightened struggle or flight response frequent to apex predators. That stress can induce excessive trauma that would take appreciable time from which to recuperate.

“Typically these assessments are carried out by way of statement in particular person and by statement information saved by the keepers,” Marineland famous, citing such measures as stool and water samples for extra detailed evaluation.

The current evaluation for Cassius discovered him “wonderful with no speedy trigger for concern, and no purpose to imagine Cassius won’t reside for years to return.” 

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Craig George introduced Cassius to the Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat in 1987. (Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat)

Marineland’s founder George Craig usually likes to personally feed Cassius and has a “great relationship” with the croc, in keeping with Isberg. 

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The oldest crocodile on report was a croc referred to as Freshie, who made it to 140 in captivity regardless of being shot twice within the tail and left eye, in keeping with Oldest.org.