Cassius, the World's Largest Crocodile, Celebrates 110th Birthday with 20kg MEAT Cake
Cassius the saltwater croc is a terrifying 17ft 11 inches and weighs as much as a small car
The world's largest crocodile - who weighs one tonne - has celebrated his 110th birthday with a special cake made of meat.
Cassius the saltwater croc is a terrifying 17ft 11 inches and weighs as much as a small car.
The fearsome crocodile is estimated to be 110 years old by staff at the Marineland Melanesia on Green Island, Australia.
To celebrate Cassius's special day he was treated to a 20kg meat cake made from chicken and beef - with candles on top.
The huge reptile - who has seen two World Wars and missed Queen Victoria's reign by just over a year - has been a popular resident of the zoo for 25 years.
Marineland Melanesia, which lies off the coast of Queensland, is run by 82-year-old former crocodile hunter George Craig.
George opened the zoo in 1969 and introduced a then 17ft 4 inch Cassius to the centre in 1987.
Cassius, with his beady yellow eyes and scaly skin, was a trouble crocodile in the Finis River at the time, notorious for attacking rivals and boats and biting off outboard motors.
So fearless George drove 3,000km with him in his truck before taking him across to the island on boat.
Cassius was officially recognised as the world¹s largest crocodile in captivity by Guinness in 2011 but lost the title later that year to Lolong, an 20ft monster in the Philippines.
But Lolong died earlier this year, handing the intimidating title back to Cassius, who is estimated to have turned 110 years old.
Billy Craig, 22, who is George's grandson and works at the zoo said: "Cassius came to us in 1987 after he was captured in the Finis River in the Northern Territory after attacking boats and causing a nuisance.
"Nobody wanted poor Cassius around so after three years of having nowhere to go, George found him, purchased him and brought him to Green Island where he has been ever since.
Cassius the 110 year old crocodile at his watery home in Australia (SWNS)
"When Cassius was brought here, we suspected he must have been at least 80-90 years old at the time. This was evident by his size, weight and condition.
"That was 26 years ago and since then he has grown six inches and is still doing very well in his health.
"To celebrate we had made for him a large meat cake. Beforehand we were not exactly sure if he would be able to eat the whole thing but we were proven wrong and after about 30 seconds he had finished it and was waiting for more."
Cassius is the star attraction at the zoo and was recently given his own Facebook page. 'Cassius the Croc'.
But despite being cared for by the zoo for more than a quarter of a century, staff are under no illusions about Cassius¹s opinion of them - and the danger he poses.
A zoo keeper keeps a wary hand on Cassius, the crocodile, vicious jaws (SWNS)
Billy added: "While being a typical crocodile in most ways, Cassius is also very different to most younger crocs. He is very calculating and deceptive. He is old and slow these days but he uses this to his advantage .
"He makes you believe he is safe and approachable, but in reality it is a very different story.
"Cassius weighs more than 1,000kg and when he gets excited, he can throw his weight around just like any younger croc and this is very scary to witness.
"He recognises George, myself and the other keepers but only in the sense that we are the silly ones who get close to him and therefore could be a potential dinner one day.
"If he did ever get that chance he would make use of it and kill us very quickly."
Saltwater crocodiles are vicious creatures - their bite is almost twice as powerful as the great white shark.
Once they get hold of their prey it is near-on impossible to get them off, with the saltwater crocodile having the most powerful jaws in the animal kingdom
Saltwater crocodiles are the largest of the crocodilian family and, despite their name suggests, will happily live in freshwater conditions.
Following a ban on hunting of the reptile in Australia, the creatures have flourished and have been known to attack and kill humans who have risked entering their environment
The world's largest crocodile - who weighs one tonne - has celebrated his 110th birthday with a special cake made of meat.
Cassius the saltwater croc is a terrifying 17ft 11 inches and weighs as much as a small car.
The fearsome crocodile is estimated to be 110 years old by staff at the Marineland Melanesia on Green Island, Australia.
To celebrate Cassius's special day he was treated to a 20kg meat cake made from chicken and beef - with candles on top.
The huge reptile - who has seen two World Wars and missed Queen Victoria's reign by just over a year - has been a popular resident of the zoo for 25 years.
Marineland Melanesia, which lies off the coast of Queensland, is run by 82-year-old former crocodile hunter George Craig.
George opened the zoo in 1969 and introduced a then 17ft 4 inch Cassius to the centre in 1987.
Cassius, with his beady yellow eyes and scaly skin, was a trouble crocodile in the Finis River at the time, notorious for attacking rivals and boats and biting off outboard motors.
So fearless George drove 3,000km with him in his truck before taking him across to the island on boat.
Cassius was officially recognised as the world¹s largest crocodile in captivity by Guinness in 2011 but lost the title later that year to Lolong, an 20ft monster in the Philippines.
But Lolong died earlier this year, handing the intimidating title back to Cassius, who is estimated to have turned 110 years old.
Billy Craig, 22, who is George's grandson and works at the zoo said: "Cassius came to us in 1987 after he was captured in the Finis River in the Northern Territory after attacking boats and causing a nuisance.
"Nobody wanted poor Cassius around so after three years of having nowhere to go, George found him, purchased him and brought him to Green Island where he has been ever since.
Cassius the 110 year old crocodile at his watery home in Australia (SWNS)
"When Cassius was brought here, we suspected he must have been at least 80-90 years old at the time. This was evident by his size, weight and condition.
"That was 26 years ago and since then he has grown six inches and is still doing very well in his health.
"To celebrate we had made for him a large meat cake. Beforehand we were not exactly sure if he would be able to eat the whole thing but we were proven wrong and after about 30 seconds he had finished it and was waiting for more."
Cassius is the star attraction at the zoo and was recently given his own Facebook page. 'Cassius the Croc'.
But despite being cared for by the zoo for more than a quarter of a century, staff are under no illusions about Cassius¹s opinion of them - and the danger he poses.
A zoo keeper keeps a wary hand on Cassius, the crocodile, vicious jaws (SWNS)
Billy added: "While being a typical crocodile in most ways, Cassius is also very different to most younger crocs. He is very calculating and deceptive. He is old and slow these days but he uses this to his advantage .
"He makes you believe he is safe and approachable, but in reality it is a very different story.
"Cassius weighs more than 1,000kg and when he gets excited, he can throw his weight around just like any younger croc and this is very scary to witness.
"He recognises George, myself and the other keepers but only in the sense that we are the silly ones who get close to him and therefore could be a potential dinner one day.
"If he did ever get that chance he would make use of it and kill us very quickly."
Saltwater crocodiles are vicious creatures - their bite is almost twice as powerful as the great white shark.
Once they get hold of their prey it is near-on impossible to get them off, with the saltwater crocodile having the most powerful jaws in the animal kingdom
Saltwater crocodiles are the largest of the crocodilian family and, despite their name suggests, will happily live in freshwater conditions.
Following a ban on hunting of the reptile in Australia, the creatures have flourished and have been known to attack and kill humans who have risked entering their environment
By Yahoo! News, 12 hours 43 minutes ago
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