Wildlife rangers have trapped a 15-foot (4.7-meter) saltwater crocodile at Katherine in Australia’s Northern Territory, ending an eight-year hunt for one of the largest reptiles ever caught in the country.
The 60-year-old crocodile, which weighs around 600 kilograms, was first spotted in 2010 and rangers were keen to relocate it from populated areas. On Monday it was spotted 60 kilometers from Katherine Gorge, a popular tourist destination, ABC News reported.
Senior wildlife officer John Burke said a trap was set two weeks ago and it was sprung, ending a frustrating chase for his team.
“We’ve called it a lot of things over the years because it’s been so hard to catch,” Burke joked. “It is a bit of a thrill, but you’ve also got to admire the size of the animal and how old it is. You’ve got to have a bit of respect for it,” he admitted.
“On record, this is the biggest saltwater crocodile removed from the Katherine management zone,” Burke added.
The huge animal has been taken to a crocodile farm.
