Photo: Roxanne Fitzgerald / The Katherine Times / Screengrab / Twitter A live 4.7 metre-long saltwater crocodile has been captured by rangers in Australia’s Northern Territory. First reported to authorities eight years ago, it weighs 500-600kg and is thought to be more than 60 years old. It’s the biggest croc removed from the Katherine River in almost 20 years, and has been taken to a farm, far away from the general population. A giant saltwater crocodile living near a town in Australia’s Northern Territory that was first reported to authorities eight years ago has been captured. The 4.7m-long male beast was trapped near Florina, a town on the crocodile-infested Katherine River about four hours’ drive south of Darwin. A spokesperson for the NT Parks and Wildlife service told Business Insider the animal weighed between 500 and 600kg. This makes it the biggest crocodile ever removed from the Katherine River by the Wildlife Operations Unit. Saltwater crocodiles are known to aggressively attack and kill people and their presence in built-up areas is a constant risk in the Darwin region. At 4.7m, the croc caught today is the size of a Nissan X-Trail and among the biggest crocodiles ever captured in the Northern Territory. The record is held by a 4.95m monster captured in 1999. The crocodile was caught in a trap, and NT Parks and Wildlife rangers sedated it before loading it on to a trailer and taking it to a farm. It’s believed to be more than 60 years old. Authorities first became aware of the enormous crocodile in 2010 when members of the public said they saw a dark tail near a local boat ramp. Deep and murky waterways in the area — the type of waters that make the Northern Territory so dangerous for swimmers — have helped it remain hidden. The photos below show just how big the animal is. Rangers posed with a boat and the crocodile after it was sedated It was loaded onto a trailer with its jaws tied, so it could be safely transported to a crocodile farm Supplied Here it is photographed after it was first caught in a trap, eight years after it was first reported as a menace in the local town Supplied This video posted by a local reporter shows the size of the croc next to a bystander NT Parks and wildlife have caught the biggest croc in Katherine to date. Rangers have been chasing the 4.71 m saltie for 10 years. pic.twitter.com/EfL3JIXhFr — Roxanne Fitzgerald (@rfitz18) July 9, 2018 Business Insider Emails & Alerts Site highlights each day to your inbox. Email Address Join Follow Business Insider Australia on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.<doc-sep>An elusive monster crocodile, thought to be one of the biggest on record, has been captured in the Northern Territory after a decade-long game of hide-and-seek. Measuring 4.7 metres and weighing in at up to 600 kilograms, the snappy saltie was trapped by rangers in Taylor's Park, around 60 kilometres downstream from the Top End town of Katherine. The crocodile is thought to be the largest reptile removed from Katherine. ( Supplied: NT Parks and Wildlife Authorities have been hunting the "big fella" for close to 10 years to no avail — until now. "We've called it a lot of things over the years because it's been so hard to catch," senior wildlife officer John Burke quipped. "On record, this is the biggest saltwater crocodile removed from the Katherine management zone." The game of hide-and-seek came to an end when the legendary lizard unwittingly swam into a trapping operation, set around two weeks ago. "We've found the big guys, because they're so used to being the boss of their hole, they tend to work with us better than the little ones," Mr Burke said. "It is a bit of a thrill, but you've also got to admire the size of the animal and how old it is. "You've got to have a bit of respect for it." It is not the first time authorities have captured crocodiles in excess of four metres. A 4.27-metre crocodile was hauled out of a creek in Darwin Harbour by wildlife rangers last month, while two salties — dubbed Gobbo and Croco — were dragged from a dam on Annaburroo Station in February.<doc-sep>
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. Image: The saltwater crocodile is the largest of all living reptiles "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. 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.