As scientists work to preserve the legacy of the colossal 5.48 metre Cassius, two 5-metre-long crocodiles look to be Queensland’s newest largest in captivity.
Cassius, who was named the world’s largest crocodile in captivity in 2011, died in Cairns early this month.
The owners of Townsville-based Krakatoa are already billing the 5.1m reptile as the new largest in the state.
“It’s unfortunate that we have lost Cassius. He was a beautiful animal,” Billabong Sanctuary curator Ray Stephens said.
“Krakatoa now has big shoes to fill.”
Saltwater crocodile Krakatoa (front) is being called the largest crocodile in captivity in Queensland. (ABC North Queensland: Chloe Chomicki)
Krakatoa
In 2014, Krakatoa was removed from a north Queensland cane paddock and taken to a Townsville breeding farm.
He endured a long bout of heartache after the death of one of his girlfriends and barely ate for months.
After eight months, he was coupled with his current partner Madonna.
With Madonna in tow, Krakatoa arrived at Billabong Sanctuary in 2020, weighing in at 800 kilograms.
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Curator Ray Stephens said the reptile had since become somewhat of a performer at his weekly feed display.
“He’s gone from being a breeding crocodile at a farm, he’s now in a business and putting on a bit of a show,” he said.
Boss Hog
Krakatoa’s closest competitor lives on the opposite end of the Sunshine State, at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast.
Boss Hog, who is 5 metres and “a fraction” long, was removed from the wild in the 1980s after he killed a sought-after beef cattle, which upset the north Queensland community.
“He was tolerated in Ingham for many years,” Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary supervisor Chris Halliwell said.
“The day that he took down a Brahman bull, worth $10,000, was one of his last in those river systems.”
Boss Hog was 4 meters long when he took down the prized bull.
Boss Hog is estimated to be 5 and “a fraction” metres long. (Supplied: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary)
After a lengthy stint at a crocodile farm, he was moved to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in 2013 at 5 metres long.
“The last time that we actually measured him was the day that he arrived,” Mr Halliwell said.
“We like to keep a healthy distance from our saltwater crocodile.
“He is of the 5-metre length, probably a fraction over to be honest.”
Boss Hog, dubbed the 700-kilogram “King of Currumbin”, is known to chuck a tantrum.
“He is an interesting crocodile, some would say that he is a bit of a sook,” Mr Halliwell explained.
“We have resident water dragons that share his habitat [and] jump into the water next to him.
“On a couple occasions, he has sulked and sat at the bottom of his pond for the rest of the day.”
Krakatoa and Boss Hog appear to be the only 5-metre crocodiles living in captivity in Queensland.
Gungardie
There could have been a three-croc race to claim the title of the Sunshine State’s largest if the 4.3-metre-long Gungardie was not missing a foot and some of his tail.
His owners at Wildlife Habitat in Port Douglas believed he would have been in the 4.8m-5m range if he was not injured.
“He is missing a portion of his tail, he is also missing his front right foot so we certainly think he might have been in the wars before he came to us,” Wildlife Habitat’s Rabecca Lynch said.
“We don’t know whether it was another croc that caused those injuries to him or another bull shark.”
4.3m Gungardie is missing a foot and a part of his tail. (Supplied: Wildlife Habitat)
Crocodiles were almost hunted to extinction before being protected in the 1970s.
They are now a managed species in Queensland and are dealt with differently depending on the region in which they are found.
Crocs deemed a “problem” by the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation are targeted for removal.
Those removed from the wild alive are taken to licensed zoos and farms.
