A 14.4-foot saltwater crocodile was caught by wildlife rangers at a remote Australian tourist spot in the country’s Northern Territory on Monday.
The male weighing about 350-kilogram was caught in the Flora River at a remote nature park 120 kilometres southwest of the Outback town of Katherine, said Katherine senior wildlife ranger, John Burke. The captured crocodile has been taken to a crocodile farm to become part of a breeding program, where they are often killed for their leather and meat.
Flora River Nature Park is a popular fishing spot and boasts a rich variety of wildlife.
In July 2018 a 15.4-foot long saltwater crocodile was caught in the Katherine River closer to the sea.
Since Australia’s federal law made them a protected species, crocodile numbers have been increasing across Australia’s tropical north.
Saltwater crocodiles are the largest of the species, with adult males reaching up to 23 feet and weighing about 997.9 kg. They are the largest reptiles living in the world.
