In brief
The world's largest crocodile in captivity, Cassius, has passed away at a wildlife sanctuary located in Green Island, Australia. Measuring nearly 5.5 meters (18 feet) long and weighing close to one ton, Cassius was an awe-inspiring saltwater crocodile who was believed to be around 110 years old, though exact details of his age remained uncertain. Captured in the Northern Territory of Australia during the 1980s, he had resided in the sanctuary—Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat—since then. In 2011, Cassius was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest crocodile in captivity.
The sanctuary expressed their sorrow in a heartfelt social media post, describing Cassius as "our beloved mate" and "a cherished member of our family." George Craig, the habitat's founder, purchased Cassius in 1987 after he had gained notoriety in the wild for catching cattle and damaging boat propellers. Craig's companionship with Cassius spanned over 37 years. Unfortunately, following Mr. Craig's recent move to Cairns, Cassius's health took a turn for the worse, and he succumbed to age-related decline.In the official statement, the habitat acknowledged that Cassius was living beyond the life expectancy of wild crocodiles. They expressed gratitude to everyone who visited and showed kindness to Cassius throughout his life and mentioned that the facility may experience limited operations in the coming days as they deal with the loss of the iconic reptile.
