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The saltwater croc, who measured 18 feet long and weighed nearly 2,870 pounds, died Saturday, Nov. 2, at an estimated age of 120, Marineland Melanesia in Australia announced on Facebook.
Cassius received the Guinness World Record as the largest living captive crocodile in 2011. Marineland Melanesia said he was “very old and believed to be living beyond the years of a wild croc.”
“It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our beloved mate Cassius,” the organization said. “He was more than just a Crocodile, he was a cherished member of our family and brought joy and companionship to his best mate George for over 37 years.”
Researchers have yet to determine a cause of death, though the reptile stopped eating in October after his longtime caretaker, George Craig, retired to an assisted living facility, Smithsonian Magazine reports.
Craig’s grandson, Toody Scott, told The Guardian “it’s easy for us to assume” that the stress of losing his longtime friend contributed to the reptile’s death.
“It was just a matter of weeks and Cassius started refusing food, and two weeks later we found him unresponsive,” Scott told the outlet. “Thirty-seven years of living together and a matter of weeks of separation and we lose one of them.”
Marineland Melanesia said Cassius will be deeply missed, "but our love and memories of him will remain in our hearts forever."
“Thank you to everyone who visited Cassius through out his life and offered kindness along the way.”
Among those mourning Cassius’ loss is actress Melissa Joan Hart, a Long Island native from Sayville. The “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” star took to Instagram to share that her sons spent several days with the animal in 2017.
“The boys went to watch him be fed twice a day for six days and talk about him often,” Hart said. “This is where my boys’ obsession with reptiles came from and why we now have a dwarf camain in our house. Rest well big guy!”
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