World's Largest Crocodile (1 Viewer)

[findi]

This1 Ton #Crocodile still holds record as world's largest; anyone know of a bigger one? http://bitly.com/ThOgC1

 

[brokenswan]

I thought the world record was still held by Crocodile shooter Krys Pawlowski who shot a 28 ft 4 inch saltwater crocodile in the Norman River in Queensland in 1957...a replica of the Croc is located outside the Carpentaria Shire Offices at Normanton.
Remarkable lady!

 

[findi]

I thought the world record was still held by Crocodile shooter Krys Pawlowski who shot a 28 ft 4 inch saltwater crocodile in the Norman River in Queensland in 1957...a replica of the Croc is located outside the Carpentaria Shire Offices at Normanton.
Remarkable lady!

Thanks for that bit of info..I'd love to see any background info if you have the chance; Seems to be an overlooked record, at least lately, If I'm not mistaken that animal wasn;t mentioned in a recent review undertaken by the Am Museum of Natural History, but I'll check further also. Best, Frank

 

[brokenswan]

Hi Frank...I always knew of the big Croc at Normanton (in Queenslands Gulf country) as I grew up in Cairns...my home town.
As is often the case if you live nearby, I never actually went to Normanton to see the replica, I have seen pictures of it and it is hard to get one's head around a Croc that size!!
Ron & Krys Pawlowski were well known Croc hunters & also had numerous 'pet' Saltwater Crocs at their property near Cairns...some quite large.
There is a very interesting book on all the Croc hunters called 'Crocodile Men' by Bryan Peach, it was published in 2000...don't know if it is still in print or even available overseas...one of the book sites may have used copies, or maybe eBay.
The record may never have been officially recognised, it was pretty wild country in those days...still is actually! I guess it was only their word for it as the skins were sold. I don't think they were the types to make wild claims so I'm inclined to believe it's true.
Crocodiles were protected in Australia after 1972 so I wouldn't mind betting there are few whoppers out there again, certainly the population is very healthy now, there has even been talk of a big game hunting type tourism industry being set up, of course there are many Crocodile farms in the North for skin & meat production.
Krys Pawlowski was still alive and living at Biboohra...a tiny rural town inland from Cairns...as recently as 2000 when the book was published, Cheers, Deb.

 

[findi]

Thanks so much, Deb. I have a few friends/co-workers who may be able to search a bit also; I'll look into that book as well. In my zoo years, I was in an exhibit with a 1700 bruiser that was collected on the Fly River in N.G> - as you say, hard to get head around it, even in person. Re not getting to close attractions, I grew up and live in NYC but have only been in Empire State Bldg once, to show a friend visiting from Australia! I see the St of Liberty all the time, while driving, but have never taken the ferry out to the island! Take care, Frank

 

[Isurus]

Rom Whitaker is, predictably, well worth a read on giant crocs:
http://madrascrocbank.blogspot.ca/2008/08/worlds-biggest-crocodiles.html

 

[findi]

Rom Whitaker is, predictably, well worth a read on giant crocs:
http://madrascrocbank.blogspot.ca/2008/08/worlds-biggest-crocodiles.html

That is a great reference,thanks. I had the great good fortune of meeting Rom when he was in NYC years ago, at which point I was caring for gharials he had sent to the Bx Zoo - we even went out snake hunting and amazingly (or not!?) found 6 species in a suburban site where I'd never found more than 1-2 individuals in years past! Some notes on that story here: http://bitly.com/Sil7dh.

Just received a note re all this from a friend involved in croc research; I'll digest it and post some of his observations soon, Thanks, best, Frank

 

[brokenswan]

The article by Rom Whitaker made fascinating reading...I tend to agree that a lot of reports of huge crocodiles are in the 'fisherman's stories' category-I am inclined to believe the Pawlowski one even tho' it can never be proven....they were professional shooters & saw big crocs all the time so weren't likely to get excited by anything but a bigger than average specimen, the measurement seems very precise, a lot of dodgy reports seem to round it off, ie: 25 ft, 30 ft etc. and I can't really see a motive for making it up or exaggerating...shame we will never know for sure!
Despite living most of my life in North Queensland I've only seen one wild Saltwater Crocodile(and I've never seen a 'Freshie'), about 6 or 7 ft I guess and a resident of a suburban creek, they are commonly seen in the Cairns region, a taxi driver ran one over whilst on a airport pick up a couple of years ago!
Other people see them all the time but I just wasn't lucky with crocodiles despite spending a lot of time in croc habitat...unlike Platypus which practically hurl themselves at me and other people find elusive!
And I was glad to hear Frank that I am not the only one who neglects local attractions!

 

[findi]

My "size-crazed " croc contact agrees with you on the Powlowski animal; he's sent me a long email on all things croc related..I need to read carefully and will post anything interesting that I find, Thanks, best, Frank

 

[rusty2013]

This is an old photo I found around the net, looks like turn of the century era northern Australia, not sure. But its similar size to the one in Normanton. There are plenty of photos of the statue in the park at Normanton, heres a link to one of them with a guy sitting at the head to give an idea of the size.



http://www.travelblog.org/Photos/4157681

 

[rusty2013]

http://durninsonsafari.blogspot.com.au/2010/08/normanton-burketown-gregory-downs.html

another link that has many photos, also a photo of the plaque that gives the details about the croc, 8.62 metres. If you do a search under krys and crocodile you should see other links to claims of another 8m one still roaming around up there.

 

[findi]

http://durninsonsafari.blogspot.com.au/2010/08/normanton-burketown-gregory-downs.html

another link that has many photos, also a photo of the plaque that gives the details about the croc, 8.62 metres. If you do a search under krys and crocodile you should see other links to claims of another 8m one still roaming around up there.

;
Great stuff, Rusty, thanks very much, best regards, Frank

 

[Chris D]

I have a photo that I'll post. It's a picture of a picture (in my friend's garage) in Cairns. Mine will be a picture of a picture of a picture.............

 

[findi]

I have a photo that I'll post. It's a picture of a picture (in my friend's garage) in Cairns. Mine will be a picture of a picture of a picture.............

I always take what I can get, as they say! Looking forward to it, best, Frank

 

[Chris D]

Here ya go. Sorry for the delay. The original (or a copy of the original) is in a friend's house in Cairns. The copy I have (up in my garage) is just from a copying machine (circa 1999). This copy (just now shot with my point and shoot) looks even murkier and hopefully controversial.

 

[Chris D]

Jayapura. 2002.

 

[findi]

Here ya go. Sorry for the delay. The original (or a copy of the original) is in a friend's house in Cairns. The copy I have (up in my garage) is just from a copying machine (circa 1999). This copy (just now shot with my point and shoot) looks even murkier and hopefully controversial.

Wow!...thanks for taking the time and trouble; I'm going to forward to a friend who's done some work in this area, best, Frank

 

[Chris D]

No sweat. Enjoy the pizza. I'm fro NJ.

 

[Chris D]

from Jared Diamond's latest book.