120-year-old Cassius is pushing limit of crocodile longevity — and he’s got ‘years to come,’ expert says

Cassius the 120-year-old crocodile swims with his head above water. — Cassius not too long ago turned 120 years outdated, however specialists say he has a number of extra years left in him. (Picture credit score: Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat)

Cassius, a 120-year-old crocodile dwelling in captivity in Australia, is “comfortable and wholesome” and can dwell “for years to return,” specialists who carried out his annual well being examine say.

“Cassius is such a powerful, stunning boy,” Sally Isberg, managing director on the Heart for Crocodile Analysis in Australia who led the evaluation, mentioned in a video shared with Stay Science. “He is simply a completely fascinating character.”

At 18 toes (5.5 meters) lengthy, Cassius is the world’s largest crocodile dwelling in captivity and not too long ago turned 120, or thereabouts. A well being evaluation carried out June 19 discovered “no purpose to imagine Cassius won’t dwell for years to return,” Toody Scott, a crocodile keeper on the Marineland park the place Cassius now lives, advised Stay Science in an electronic mail.

Researchers do not understand how lengthy saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) can dwell for, however they will die of outdated age, mentioned Adam Rosenblatt, an assistant professor of biology on the College of North Florida.

“My very own educated guess is that the utmost lifespan for crocodilians as a gaggle is within the vary of 100-120, however they’d solely attain these ages in captivity,” Robenblatt advised Stay Science in an electronic mail. “Within the wild most crocodilians in all probability do not dwell previous 60.”

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Cassius has spent greater than 35 years on the Marineland Crocodile Park on Inexperienced Island. He was captured on a cattle ranch in 1984 after he attacked livestock, having roamed within the wild for as much as 80 years.

The researchers famous that the large croc turns into skittish when keepers use equipment across the park, which can stem from trauma he suffered throughout his time within the wild.

A close up of Cassius the crocodile displays his massive snout, large teeth and green eyes.

Cassius could also be extraordinarily delicate to sound and vibrations, corresponding to these produced by a ship engine. (Picture credit score: Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat)

Keepers advised Isberg that Cassius “reveals humorous habits” and “reacts badly” once they use loud gear and equipment close to his enclosure.

“He was taken from a state of affairs within the wild the place I really feel that he wasn’t very comfortable,” Isberg mentioned.

Cassius was lacking the tip of his snout when he was caught, main researchers to imagine he was answerable for assaults on boats that — on the time — have been pinned on one other crocodile referred to as Sweetheart.

“He had the tip of his snout damaged, which you may get from attacking a propeller,” Grahame Webb, a crocodile researcher who participated within the seize, advised ABC Information.

Crocodiles have extraordinarily delicate mouths, and Cassius could also be extra delicate than most.

“The scales on the entrance of their mouth are all about strain receptors; they’re all about honing in on prey,” Isberg mentioned. “Perhaps these boat motors [created] further vibration that fairly irritated him. When a croc will get irritated by one thing, the one means he can categorical that irritation is to go to chew at it,” Isberg mentioned.

However now, in captivity, Cassius seems to be “a contented, wholesome boy,” Isberg mentioned.

The traditional crocodile will endure one other checkup subsequent yr. Assessments are usually completed via remark to keep away from inflicting the animal stress. “Crocs are apex predators and have a really heightened struggle or flight response,” Scott mentioned. “If restrained, the flight response is triggered and it could actually take a while for the crocodile to get well.”

Within the meantime, keepers will be sure that Cassius will get sufficient daylight to remain wholesome by clearing the tree cover over his pen.

“A stress-free crocodile typically will self-heal any accidents and be free from illness, as they’ve a stronger immune system [than stressed crocodiles],” Scott mentioned.

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