Adelaide River Cruises capture Dominator devouring young croc

A young crocodile has become a midday snack for one of the world’s largest crocodiles in the Adelaide River. Watch the video.

It’s not every day you see a case of reptile dysfunction, but it’s what awaited a boat of tourists on the infamous Adelaide River.

A rare sight was witnessed on an Adelaide River Cruises jumping croc tour just days after it opened for the dry season.

The Territory’s very own beast of a croc Dominator — the largest known crocodile in the world — was caught feasting on a fellow reptile last week.

Tour owner Sean Dealy said it was something he’d never seen in his more than 30 years of working with crocodiles.

“I’ve seen ‘em killed but never fully devoured,” he said.

Crew and guests on an Adelaide River Cruises boat witnessed 6.2m croc Dominator eating another croc. Picture: Sean Dealy

“It was a once in a lifetime thing.”

Mr Dealy said the cruise was on the way back to dock when they saw Dominator enjoying an afternoon snack, which turned out to be a 1.6m junior crocodile named Snapper.

“I thought oh he’s got a barra,” he said.

“But it was a crocodile with it’s legs and tail hanging out of (Dominator’s) mouth.”

He said he wasn’t sure whether the smaller crocodile was alive or not before the final chomp.

“It could have been, it may not have been,” he said.

“It wasn’t wriggling around too much — and he wouldn’t have be feeling too good.”

Crew and guests on an Adelaide River Cruises boat witnessed 6.2m croc Dominator eating another croc. Picture: Sean Dealy

The boat full of tourists, which Mr Dealy said were awe-struck by the event unfolding in front of them, stayed until dinner time was over.

“People were absolutely amazed, they were stunned,” he said.

“Noone was upset, they understood it was law of nature, crocodiles cull their own.”

Mr Dealy has been getting up close with crocs for three decades, even once getting bitten by one while on a tour.

He said he had known Dominator to live up to his name, often getting into fights when other animals get too close to his territory.

“He’s 6.2m and full of aggression,” Mr Dealy said.

“Whatever’s in it in danger constantly, he doesn’t mess around.”

NT News most memorable front pages (Brutus)

“He was just cleaning up the paddock, getting rid of the contenders.”

One such contender that lives downstream is Brutus, the subject of a world famous NT News front page in 2011.

The pair got into a tussle during another jumping croc tour in 2019, which Mr Dealy also caught on camera.

Last year he witnessed him taking a full-grown male buffalo into the water.

“Our job is like a wildlife documentary every day of the week,” he said.

Originally published as Adelaide River Cruises capture Dominator devouring young croc