8 Oldest Crocodiles in The World

As far as reptiles go, crocodiles are probably one of the most common creatures that come to mind — and one of the most deadly. Brought to the public sphere by Steve Irwin in the Animal Planet show The Crocodile Hunter, crocodiles are fearsome and fascinating animals.

While most make the news due to their large intimidating size, crocodiles have a long lifespan, reaching over a 100 years of age. Below are some of the world’s oldest (and largest!) crocodiles!

8. Lolong

 Year of Birth: 1963
Age: 50 years old (died in 2013)
Species: Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
 Location: Bunawan, Philippines

Lolongphoto source: Wikipedia

Caught in the waters of Bunawan creek in Agusan del Sur, Philippines, Lolong was a massive specimen measuring at 6.17 meters (20 ft) long. He was named after Ernesto “Lolong” Conate, who led the team of local hunters who caught him.

Unfortunately, Ernesto died of a stroke a few days before Lolong was finally captured. Lolong was hunted down after several reports of crocodile attacks were made in the area, including the disappearance of a local fisherman and a 12-year-old girl.

Lolong briefly held the title of largest crocodile in captivity from the Guinness Book of World Records until he died in captivity in 2013, at an estimated age of 50. He died of pneumonia and cardiac arrest.

Although people have claimed that captivity took a toll on Lolong’s health, the caretaking team at the Bunawan Eco Park and Research Centre, took all the necessary precautions in allowing Lolong to acclimatize to his new surroundings.


7. Gustave

 Year of Birth: 1949
Age: 68 years old
Species: Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)
 Location: Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa

Gustavephoto source: Wikipedia

One of the deadliest crocodiles on this list and, possibly on the planet, Gustave eludes captivity and roams the waters of the Ruzizi River and Lake Tanganyika in the small African state of Burundi. Gustave is a reputed man eater who has been terrorizing local villagers since the 1990s.

A 2004 documentary Capturing the Killer Croc, shows the attempts of Patrice Faye and other scientists to humanely capture and kill Gustave using a baited trap cage. Faye had spent two years investigating the crocodiles and its violent activities before setting out to capture Gustave on a two month deadline.

The attempt ultimately failed and the team was forced to leave the country due to political instability.

For a time, Gustave was believed to be dead as he did not surface and attempt another attack in years.

However, he was confirmed to be sighted again in 2008, with rumours of sightings dated as recent as 2015. Elusive as ever, Gustave’s reputation of being a “serial killer” has elevated him to a mythical status akin to the Loch Ness Monster.


6. Hakuna

 Year of Birth: 1930
Age: 85 years old
Species: Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
 Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands

Hakunaphoto source: corktocape – blogger

In March 2015, an old crocodile by the name Hakuna died in the Blijdorp zoo in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He was brought to the zoo in 1930 fully grown and was thought to be at least 85 years old, making him the oldest crocodile in the zoo’s history.

Hakuna was gifted to the zoo, along with a female crocodile named Matata (who died in 2014), by famous actress and singer Josephine Baker.

Together, the names Hakuna Matata form an African phrase that means “no worries.”


5. Big Daddy

 Year of Birth: around 1916
Age: 100 years old
Species: Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
 Location: Mombasa, Kenya

Big Daddyphoto source: TripAdvisor

Another violent man eater, this crocodile named Big Daddy, was captured in 1986 after he mauled five people in River Tana. He was so hostile that when he arrived in his new home in Mamba Village he ate 10 of his fellow crocodiles and was thus put into solitary confinement.

Eventually, two female crocodiles, Sasha and Salma were introduced into his enclosure and Big Daddy welcomed his new companions with open arms, even changing his feeding behaviour to share his meals with them every Friday. Big Daddy married Sasha and Salma in December 2016.


4. Cassius

 Year of Birth: 1903
Age: 114 years old
Species: Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
 Location: Cairns, Australia

Cassiusphoto source: Our Planet

Currently awarded the title of largest crocodile in captivity by the Guinness Book of World Records, Cassius is a whooping 5.48 meters (17 ft 11.75 in) long. He currently resides in the Marineland Melanesia wildlife zoo in Green Island, Australia, along with other 50 crocodiles.

Cassius was brought to the zoo over 3,200 km (1.988 miles) from Australia’s Northern Territory by truck. He was first captured in 1984 for stealing cattle and attacking boats.

In celebration of his 112th birthday in 2015, Cassius was met with fervent celebration and was gifted a chicken birthday cake to commemorate the special occasion. George Craig, the person who brought Cassius to the Marineland Melanesia zoo, named him after Cassius Clay, the birth name of renowned boxer Muhammad Ali.

The name is fitting for Cassius’ hardknock life as he was caught with a missing leg and battle scars strewn all over his body.


3. Kolya

 Year of Birth: around 1880
Age: 110-115 years old (died in 1995)
Species: Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
 Location: Yekaterinburg, Russia

Kolyaphoto source: Wikipedia

Believed to have been born in the era of the czars, a crocodile that died in a Russian zoo is alleged to be one of the oldest crocodiles to have ever lived. Named Kolya, the crocodile measured 9 feet 10 inches (3 meters) long was part of an animal show that toured the region.


2. Henry

 Year of Birth: 1900
Age: 117 years old
Species: Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)
 Location: Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa

Henryphoto source: SA Breaking News

Born in the Okavango Delta in Botswana, Henry the Nile Crocodile, gained a reputation of being a man-eater, terrorizing local tribespeople and eating several men and children. One of the tribes solicited the services of an elephant hunter known as Sir Henry, who the crocodiles in named after, to kill him.

After capturing Henry in 1903, he was sentenced to a lifetime in captivity.

Henry currently lives at the Crocworld Conservation Centre in Scottburgh, Kwa-Zulu Natal, where the caretakers and visitors celebrate his birthday with style, handing out free cupcakes and providing fun entertainment such as dancing and face painting.


1. Mr. Freshie

 Year of Birth: 1870
Age: 140 years old (died in 2010)
Species: Freshwater Crocodile (Crocodylus johnsoni)
 Location: Queensland, Australia

Mr. Freshiephoto source: SunshineCoastDaily

Having resided in the Australia Zoo as one of its oldest residents, Mr. Freshie was a freshwater crocodile that lived to be 140 years old making him the oldest known crocodile to ever be put in captivity. He lived long despite being shot twice in the tail and left eye, leaving him blind and badly injured.

Mr. Freshie was caught in 1970 by crocodile wrangling duo Steve Irwin and his father, Bob Irwin, in the Moorehead River. Unlike saltwater crocodiles, freshwater crocodiles like Mr. Freshie are harmless reptiles and have never been linked to any human fatalities.

Despite that fact, they are still often seen as a threat and shot, giving them long term injuries and months of suffering before a slow death.

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  1. There is Muja (in Zoo in Belgrade), he has been moved to Serbia in 1937. as an older alligator. Now, he is still alive and I think he sould be on this list.

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