A 4.4-metre crocodile kept as an illegal pet at a pearl farm in Indonesia's north has killed a researcher who worked there, local media reports.

Key points: The victim was feeding her boss's crocodile when she reportedly fell

The victim was feeding her boss's crocodile when she reportedly fell Police are searching for the crocodile's owner

Police are searching for the crocodile's owner The crocodile has been moved to an animal conservation centre

Local media reported Deasy Tuwo, 44, who headed a laboratory at the farm in North Sulawesi, on the island of Sulawesi, was last seen feeding the 600-kilogram reptile before her remains were discovered by co-workers on Thursday.

Her body was reportedly badly mauled, with one of her hands and most of her abdomen eaten.

A huge operation involving dozens of people was launched to sedate the crocodile named Merry and move it to a nearby animal conservation organisation, the Tasik Koki Animal Breeding Centre in North Minahasa.

Co-workers believe Ms Tuwo slipped while feeding the crocodile and was then mauled. Police are investigating several possible scenarios that led to her death.

Tribune News reported the crocodile's owner, Japanese citizen Ochiai Sensei, who was also Ms Tuwo's employer, has not been able to be contacted and was being sought by police.

It is the latest fatal crocodile attack to occur in Indonesia's archipelago region, which is the natural habitat to a wide range of wildlife, including several species of crocodile

Crocodile attacks are not unusual; in July 2018, a local man from the Papua province was killed by a crocodile when he fell into one of the animals' enclosure. In revenge, a mob of more than 300 locals slaughtered more than 300 crocodiles.

In April 2016, a crocodile killed a Russian tourist in the Raja Ampat islands, which is a popular holiday site in the east of the archipelago.