Crocodile named “Michael Jackson” kills man in front of his wife

A 15-foot albino crocodile in northern Australia has killed a 57-year-old fisherman in front of his wife. The man was said to have entered the water to salvage a snagged fishing line.

The reptile, which had a white head and a black body, was well-known amongst residents near a crocodile-infested section of the Adelaide River. Locals had nicknamed it “Michael Jackson” for obvious reasons.

Authorities in the Northern Territory however shot and killed the crocodile.

Adam Britton, a crocodile researcher at Charles Darwin University, said it was a shame to kill the crocodile but added that the fisherman should have been aware of the risk of entering the water.

“They [authorities] acted appropriately to shoot him but it’s a real shame they had to do it” Dr Britton told Fairfax Media. “This man almost certainly would have known there were crocodiles in the river and he probably even knew the croc that took him. For a fleeting moment, he should have thought about that; he took a little risk and that was enough.”


Dr Britton said albino crocodiles are extremely rare and this crocodile was a popular attraction for tourists on reptile-spotting cruises along the river.

“It was always a thrill when he appeared,” he said. “He is a well-known, well-loved crocodile.”
The area is well-known for its crocodile “jumping” expeditions - where guides lean out of tour boats with pieces of meat attached to string and encourage the animals to jump out of the water to snatch the food. Some however think that that practice had led to an increase in the number of crocodile attacks in the region.

The fisherman’s body has been recovered and his wife treated for shock.

The death was the fourth fatal attack in the area in the past year and there are concerns over the increasing risk of crocodiles in the Northern Territory.

The territory’s chief minister, Adam Giles, said the crocodile population may be becoming too high.
He however said that: “It’s not about going out and randomly killing crocs, it’s about having a well-developed plan that protects the interests of the animal but also the interests of the general public”

Pictures: The Telegraph UK, London Evening Standard UK