'Living Dinosaur' Found: Aggressive Crocodile Removed From Residential Suburb

An aggressive, 4.5-meter-long male crocodile has been removed from a residential suburb in Far North Queensland beach, Australia, after it was captured by wildlife authorities.

Following several reports that the crocodile was behaving aggressively, Queensland's Department of Environment and Science (DES) declared the reptile as a problem.

Dr. Matt Brien of DES said the male crocodile was estimated to be older than 50 years and its behavior suggested that it was well-fed, most probably by locals.

"It's a living dinosaur," said Dr. Brien to ABC News. "Its size meant that it posed quite a serious risk to public safety — they are a serious predator of many things and humans fit into that category.”

Dr. Brien believes the reptile found near the residential suburb north of Cairns had been fed by humans in the area. "It was approaching boats and people and dogs without any fear, which automatically tells us that it has been fed," he said.

The crocodile was found with a crab bait pot stuck on its head. According to Dr. Brien, it was scavenging for easy feed and was at the end stage of its dominance in that area.

The large size of the crocodile makes it an "icon crocodile" under Queensland conservation legislation and would be re-homed at a crocodile farm, zoo or other tourist attraction.

A 2013 study conducted by Charles Darwin University in the Northern Territory had found the Australian Saltwater Crocodiles topped the aggressive list when compared with six other species from U.S., Papua New Guinea, South America and Southeast Asia, reported the Guardian. The observations were based on hatchlings and juvenile crocodiles in captivity.

Dr. Brien, then a wildlife biologist at Charles Darwin University, said, “They are certainly the ugliest when it comes to aggression. They get in an agitated state then wind themselves up and swing their heads into other crocodiles. When you see larger salties, especially males during mating season, it’s quite fearsome. It’s like a sledgehammer that would certainly shatter your head.”