Moving a monster: 4.7-metre 'gentleman' crocodile released in new home in north Queensland

Updated

A month after he was captured in Townsville in north Queensland, Jupiter, the 4.7-metre, one-eyed saltwater crocodile, has found a new home at Billabong Sanctuary.

I think he's a real gentleman, he's very old, he's not an aggressive animal towards us ... his left eye is missing, he has a large scar on his right-hand side. Tony Frisby, Department of Environment and Heritage Protection senior wildlife officer

Beaches along Townsville's popular Strand were closed at the beginning of February when Jupiter was spotted swimming about 50 metres offshore.

He was caught about 8.30 at night and rangers had to call in help from police and members of the public to haul the caged crocodile onto a trailer.

He has been in a holding facility ever since.

Jupiter is estimated to be 50-70 years old, 4.7 metres in length and 500-600 kilograms.

Senior wildlife officer Tony Frisby said he looked like he had lived an eventful life.

"His left eye is missing, he has a large scar on his right-hand side that was obviously from another croc," he said.

"He's got a number of other rips and tears in him that have been from the past, but he's in pretty good health."

He's iconic because he's over four metres, which means that he has been in the area for a long time — he may have some traditional significance to the people around Townsville. Tony Frisby, Department of Environment and Heritage Protection senior wildlife officer

Because Jupiter is more than four metres long, special Queensland conservation laws came into effect, deeming the crocodile iconic.

Iconic crocodiles can only be sent to a registered crocodile farm or zoo which agrees to use them as an educational resource and house them for the rest of their life.

These guys live for a very long time so this is not a short term commitment, this is potentially another 30, 40 years seeing out his natural life. Brad Cooper, Billabong Sanctuary curator

Billabong Sanctuary curator Brad Cooper said taking Jupiter on was a very big responsibility, but they were happy to do it.

"It's a very big commitment for us but it's a commitment we've done a few times," he said.

"We're used to these animals so we can provide them with the very best care for their entire lives."

Jupiter will be the equal largest crocodile at Billabong, alongside Bully, who is also about 4.7 metres long.

Saltwater crocodiles have been around for years and years so it has a very significant role for traditional owners who have lived on this land for thousands of years. Eddie Smallwood, Bindal man and coordinator of the Gudjura Rangers

Gudjura Rangers coordinator and Bindal man Eddie Smallwood said the two clans in the Townsville area, the Bindal and Wulgurukaba, had been invited to decide where the animal would go and what it would be named.

Mr Smallwood's clan named it Goolinbulla, which means saltwater crocodile in the Birrigubba language.

But the two groups agreed to keep its nickname, Jupiter, which it was named because it was caught near Townsville's casino, formerly known as Jupiters.

"Now what we want to look at here is sharing [Jupiter] with all of the community," he said.

"I think the main thing here is about preserving and protecting the wildlife."

He likes to do his own thing at his own pace — he didn't want to come out initially [but] we gave him a little bit of encouragement and he came out of the box quite well. Tony Frisby, Department of Environment and Heritage Protection senior wildlife officer

Rangers had hoped Jupiter would slide out of the box as soon as they opened it, but he decided not to cooperate.

"We had some idea that he might not come out of the box and he would be stubborn and stay there," Mr Frisby said.

"So we already had a plan with Billabong to lift the back of the box up and get him to slide forward in the box."

In the end, Mr Frisby had to open the back of the box and give him a poke and then a slap on the tail before Jupiter entered the water.

We think he'll probably just hide away for a few months [and] adjust to life at Billabong. Brad Cooper, Billabong Sanctuary curator

Rangers expect that Jupiter will not eat for the next few months while he adjusts to his new surroundings.

Bully, Billabong's other large crocodile, did just that when he first arrived after being removed from the Herbert River at Halifax in September, 2013.

"He may come out of an evening and just get used to his surroundings," Mr Cooper said.

"We think he'll probably come out and walk the fence lines and try and get a gauge of where his new territory lies.

"As far as being fed and being part of our presentations, we can't see that happening for about six months."

His story's really unique to the Townsville public ... we'll use him to deliver our messages on crocodile conservation and staying safe in croc country. Brad Cooper, Billabong Sanctuary curator

Topics: crocodile, conservation, animals, zoos, townsville-4810

First posted