By Lucia Binding, news reporter
A monster saltwater crocodile has been caught by rangers after an eight-year search in Australia, officials have said.
The 15-foot croc, weighing 1,328lbs, was found in a trap downstream from the northern outback town of Katherine.
Some Australian newspapers have said it is one of the biggest saltwater crocodiles ever caught in a trap.
Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife wrote on Facebook on Tuesday: "Yesterday afternoon rangers caught a 4.7m male saltwater crocodile in a trap on private property 60km downstream from Katherine."
The crocodile - estimated to be 60 years old - was moved to the safety of a crocodile farm where it will live out the rest of its life in order to protect those living in the surrounding area.
"He was removed downstream from Katherine to help prevent human interaction in the more populated areas," the post continued.
"Large crocodiles can move around Top End waterways undetected and you should always Be Crocwise."
The authorities of Australia's Northern Territory have been trying to trap and relocate the creature since 2010.
It joins the ranks of 190 other crocodiles that have already been captured and moved from populated areas in the Northern Territory this year.
"He is the biggest crocodile ever removed from the Katherine River by the Wildlife Operations Unit," Northern Territory wildlife operations chief Tracey Duldig said in a statement.
The saltwater crocodile is thriving in northern Australia and is the largest of all living reptiles.
Its prey are ambushed and then drowned or swallowed as whole - and they are capable of prevailing over almost any animal that enters its territory including sharks.
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The Sydney Morning Herald said one that was 6.4m long was caught in a net on the Mary River in 1974.
Some people living near the crocodiles' habitat have raised concerns the risk the reptiles pose is damaging tourism.
Original ArticleWorld
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