Cassius the croc returns to Green Island to feature in new exhibit
A crocodile that once claimed the title of being the biggest captive croc in the world has returned to Green Island to feature in a new display celebrating the iconic animal and his late keeper George Craig.
A crocodile that once claimed the title of being the biggest captive croc in the world has returned to Green Island to feature in a new display celebrating the iconic animal and his late keeper George Craig.
On November 3 in 2024 Cassius died in his enclosure at the Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat at Green Island.
He was immediately put on ice to make sure there was no decomposition and Professor Sally Isberg of the Centre Crocodile Research performed a full scientific necropsy.
Marineland Melanesia’s Toody Scott said a research paper by Dr Isberg is yet to be published but in a nutshell the cause of Cassius’ death was blood poisoning and septicaemia as a result of infections that he sustained 40 years ago in the wild.
Despite old battle injuries claiming a small piece of his snout and tail Mr Scott said the official measurement of Cassius came in at 5.55m.
“It’s a bit more challenging (to measure) when they are alive and he (ended up) being bigger than what we thought,” he said.
Following the necropsy Cassius was sent to Down Under Taxidermy and Pet Preservation on the Sunshine Coast who were tasked with a huge undertaking of stuffing the crocodile.
This Saturday the Green Island crocodile habitat will unveil the mounted Cassius display to the public.
“We do want his memory to live on for him and George, we took every effort to preserve his remains for science,” he said.
“Cassius will now sit as a centrepiece and the room is a dedication to the both of them and tells the story of both
“To some degree Cassius has become a household name and it’s good they are both being brought together and it’s great we have got Cassius back on the island.”
Less than two weeks after Cassius died, his owner, famous crocodile hunter and tourism pioneer George Craig himself aged 94 died peacefully with his daughter by his side in what Mr Scott described as “strange timing.”
“They both lived together and their fates were intertwined,” he said.
“George said goodbye to him and it was just a few days that Cassius stopped eating and he didn’t eat for two days and he passed away.”
Also on display will be a set of rocks that Cassius carried in his stomach for 40 years.
“It is believed they swallow rocks for buoyancy and digestion but he could have been feeding on a bank and (inadvertently) swallowed the rocks,” Mr Scott said.
In 2011, Cassius was officially awarded the record for largest living crocodile in captivity at 5.48m.
More Coverage
Originally published as Cassius the croc returns to Green Island to feature in new exhibit
‘Very dangerous situation’: Man trapped after collision with truck
