WATCH: Real or AI? The NT croc that has divided the internet

When Polly Hohn’s family shared the moment they saw a massive saltwater crocodile on the Roper River, they were stunned by the online reaction. SEE THE VIDEO

Social media platforms are abuzz after footage from a Katherine family’s camping and fishing trip starring a monstrous crocodile went viral.

So far the video has racked up 20 million views on TikTok and another 12k reactions on Facebook.

In the clip captured by the Hohn family on the Roper River in June, a massive saltwater crocodile can be seen sliding into the river and disappearing.

Thinking it was a fun tale, Polly Hohn and her daughter Hannah shared the footage around friends and eventually posted it online.

But it soon became clear the short clip was dividing viewers as questions around its authenticity were voiced with many claiming it was AI.

Polly Hohn (centre) and her family on a trip on the Roper River when they spotted a massive saltwater crocodile when out fishing. Picture: Polly Hohn

“Look I can understand why people would say that,” Polly, who is an intuitive mindset coach, said.

“But I come from integrity from both my businesses and honesty is my biggest value.

“So I just laugh at them.

“There’s a few there that I said, ‘Look, guys, this is absolutely real. There is no fake here.’

“But after a while, you’ve just got to joke around it.”

The Roper River encounter with the scaly ‘mountain’

It was a moment that took Polly’s family by surprise.

After a long weekend of fishing and camping in the boat on the water, Polly, her husband Craig, son Ryan and daughter Hannah were parked by a small creek and getting ready to head home after a morning tea.

Polly Hohn and her daughter Hannah (left), son Ryan (right) and husband Craig often go out fishing and camping in their boat on the water. Picture: Polly Hohn

It was then her son Ryan spotted something on the bank.

“Then he says, ‘Is that a croc over there on the bank?’,” she said.

“And I’m like, ‘No, that’s a f*****g mountain.”

When they drove past, Polly’s daughter Hannah managed to capture the moment the saltie slid into the river.

The saltwater crocodile that Polly Hohn and her family spotted when out fishing in June 2025. Picture: Polly Hohn

“It just sort of disappeared,” said Polly

“Then we went and took the boat up against the bank where the croc was and our boat’s about six and a half meters … it was about a metre shorter than our boat.

“Then we didn’t even think anything else of it.

“I just thought this will be fun to show people and post it on there and then before we know it, it’s bloody viral.”

Crocodile expert said croc could be ‘rare’ five metre reptile

When asked to weigh in on the debate, local crocodile expert, Professor Grahame Webb, said while it was hard to tell from just a video, it looked like a real saltie.

“I don’t think there’s any reason to think it’s anything other than a big croc,” Professor Webb said.

“It’s probably up in that five metre bracket.

“But it would be really nice if someone could get some more information.

“Now’s the time because it’s cooler and the crocs are basking, so someone may be able to get some more photos.”

Usually, he said the average size of saltwater male crocodiles was under five metres so crocodiles over that were “pretty rare”.

“Crocs over five metres are a little bit like 6’8” basketball players,” he added.

“They’re outsized individuals and animals that are fast growing, they’re not necessarily old.

“But they’re always rare.

“In the hunting period … they rarely, rarely got a croc that was over 5.2m.”

Originally published as WATCH: Real or AI? The NT croc that has divided the internet