The world’s largest crocodile, Cassius, dies in QLD sanctuary

The world’s biggest crocodile has died at the estimated age of 120.

Cassius, measuring an incredible 5.48m long and weighing more than 1000kg, lived tucked away on an island in the Great Barrier Reef.

The mighty predator* once prowled the nation’s waterways, attacking boats and snatching unlucky 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,” it said.

“Cassius will be deeply missed, but our love and memories of him will remain in our hearts forever.”

The crocodile received a health check on October 14 from Professor Sally Isberg of the Centre for Crocodile Research, and everything seemed to be fine, The Sun reported.

But a few days later, Cassius started refusing food.

Cassius – who died on Saturday after 37 years in captivity – has been 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 Northern Territory.

Missing his right leg, Cassius was estimated to be 120-years-old, however scientists aren’t sure exactly how old he was.

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 6.17m long, according to Guinness World Records.

Considered an aggressive problem croc in his younger days, Cassius was captured in 1984 near a cattle ranch on the Finniss River, southwest of Darwin, in the Northern Territory.

At the time of his capture, Cassius was the biggest crocodile ever caught alive in Australia.

He was then transported to Green Island in 1987 by crocodile hunter George Craig, who had opened Marineland Melanesia in 1969.

From there, an unlikely, almost four-decade friendship began between Mr Craig and Cassius.

“They did have a close bond. George would quietly sit with Cassius for hours on end,” said Mr Scott, who is also Mr Craig’s grandson. “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.”

Now 94, Mr Craig moved into an assisted living facility in October.

According to Mr Scott, there may be “some kind of correlation” between Cassius’s passing and his friend’s absence.

“Cassius was very aware of George and his presence,” Mr Scott said, adding it was difficult to tell his grandfather that Cassius had died.

“They’re just really good at surviving,” he said. “But George knows that time catches up with everyone.”

– With The Sun

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GLOSSARY

• Melanesia: a subregion of Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, including many island nations
• habitat: place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives and grows

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QUICK QUIZ

1. What was Cassius’ estimated age?
2. How long was he and how much did he weigh?
3. How long was Cassius living in captivity?
4. When did Cassius earn his Guinness World Record title?
5. In his younger days, Cassius was considered to be what?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Summarise the article
A summary is a brief statement of the main points of something. It does not usually include extra detail or elaborate on the main points.

Use the 5W & H model to help you find the key points of this article. Read the article carefully to locate who and what this article is about, and where, when, why and how this is happening. Once you have located this information in the article, use it to write a paragraph that summarises the article.

Time: allow 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science

1. News: condensed
Identify the most important pieces of information in this article and write a condensed version of it using 50 words or less.

Draw a picture or diagram to support your condensed news story.

Time: allow 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science

2. Extension
Compare your condensed news story with a classmate. Did you both include the same information or are your stories quite different? Discuss your choices and then work together to create a final condensed version of the story that you both agree tells the important parts that a reader would need or want to know.

Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English

VCOP ACTIVITY
Animal alliterations
With a partner, choose one of the pictures from the story.

Make a list of nouns you could use to describe Cassius in the picture. For example, instead of a crocodile, you could also say reptile, or predator.

Pick your favourite noun and identify its initial sound — what sound it starts with, not necessarily which letter.

Now, using the initial sound, make a list of adjectives to describe Cassius. Try to be specific. Don’t just look at the animal as a whole, look at his different features as well.

Build on these same sound words, and add any verbs and adverbs you could use to describe Cassius and his movements.

Try to put it all together and use as many same sound words in a sentence, to create an alliteration about the animal in the picture. For example: the terrifying tiger tiptoed through tangled trees chasing his prey.