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World's oldest croc has reason to smile

Cassius the crocodile has much to celebrate.

Not only does he hold the Guinness World Record as the largest crocodile in captivity, he can now lay claim to being the oldest as well.


The monster saltie celebrated his 112th birthday recently at his retirement home on idyllic Green Island in far north Queensland.

He was gifted a special chicken cake to mark the occasion.

Cassius was brought to Craig's Crocodile Park by croc handler and founder George Craig, in 1984.

He was captured after becoming a pest in the Northern Territory, where he stole cattle and attacked boat propellers.

He was missing a leg and had battle scars all over his body, hence why he was named after world Heavyweight Champion Cassius Clay, the birth name of boxer Muhammad Ali.

Cassius' special chicken birthday cake.
Cassius' special chicken birthday cake.


So what’s Cassius’ secret to longevity?

Jemma Craig, a third generation handler at the park, believes it has a lot to do with his relaxed lifestyle.

"Green Island is a really unique place - I think it's the only sand cay on The Great Barrier Reef that has a rainforest growing on it," she said.

"He's living on a tropical island so what more could you want the last years of your life?"

Morning news break – May 29