CAsias the crocodile cheated death for more than a century before finally catching up to life in the wild in Australia last year. Now, the experts working on his autopsy have finally revealed what brought about the giant’s demise.
Saltwater crocodile, 5.5 meters (approximately 18 feet) long Died in November 2024 He was kept for 40 years at the Marineland Melanesian Wildlife Park on Green Island off the coast of Cairns. At a very old age of 110-120 years, he oldest known crocodile In captivity.
Curiously, the world-famous reptile had been diagnosed as normal by a veterinarian just weeks before its death, noting that it appeared “bright, alert and happy.” Then, suddenly, he passed away.
talk to ABC NewsThe Darwin-based Crocodile Research Center said a necropsy found Cassius died from an infection related to injuries sustained in the wild more than 40 years ago.
This wound caused an infection, which was sealed within a tough fibrous capsule and remained dormant for decades. Over time, that protective bubble collapsed and eventually burst, allowing the infection to spread throughout the crocodile’s body.
Dr. Sally Isberg, managing director of the Crocodile Research Center, told the media that so-called fibrillar fissures are “well-documented” in crocodiles, but Cassius’ case was unusual given the length of time the infection was contained.
After further investigation, the team concluded that the hidden infection may be related to injuries sustained when Cassius was hit by a boat propeller in the 1980s, losing his front left leg, part of his nose, and the end of his tail.
“What we didn’t know was that the injury also damaged his ribcage,” Dr. Isberg said.
“The reason was that everything had healed completely. There were no signs of infection or recent scars. The autopsy showed that his left rib was enlarged and very long compared to his right rib,” she added.
“This is a perfect example of the effects of aging. He is no longer able to maintain the fibrous envelope around the infection.”
Cassius was captured in the Finis River near Darwin in 1984 and transported by road and boat, eventually arriving at Marineland Melanesia in 1987. Because of his size and strength, he was named after boxer Muhammad Ali’s birth name, Cassius Clay.
He was for some time recognized as the world’s largest crocodile in captivity, according to . Guinness World Recordsalthough the title was taken away, An even larger specimen called Roron In 2012.
But Cassis’ legacy lives on. The stuffed remains of an Australian beast – still missing its left leg and the tip of its tail – have arrived at Marineland Melanesia and are now on display in a new exhibition.
