'Neck Stuck in Tire' for Over 4 Years... The Reappearance of the 'Indonesian Crocodile'

First Sighted with Tire Four Years Ago
Crocodile Expert: "Tire Removal Not Easy"
Resource Protection Agency: "Retrying Tire Removal After COVID-19 Situation"

An alligator that has been living with a tire around its neck for over four years disappeared for a while but reappeared on the 1st, attracting attention.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A crocodile living with a tire around its neck for over four years on Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, disappeared earlier this year but has recently reappeared, drawing attention.

According to CNN Indonesia on the 8th, a large crocodile with a black tire around its neck was spotted by residents near the Palu River in Central Sulawesi on the 1st.

In a video posted on social media by a resident, the 4-meter-long saltwater crocodile lay quietly by the riverbank even with a resident standing right next to it, then gracefully disappeared into the water when another resident approached.

First seen in 2016 with a motorcycle tire stuck around its neck, the crocodile has continued to grow over time.

The crocodile has periodically appeared, becoming a topic of interest.

An alligator with a tire stuck around its neck appeared in Palu River on the 1st. Photo by infopalu Instagram capture.

Most speculate that the discarded tire in the river accidentally got stuck around the crocodile’s neck, but there are suspicions that someone may have tried and failed to catch the crocodile.

The Central Sulawesi Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) announced in January that it would offer a reward to anyone who removes the tire from the crocodile’s neck, but the offer was withdrawn due to lack of applicants.

In February, Matt Wright, host of Australia’s National Geographic TV show "Monster Croc Wrangler" and a crocodile expert, attempted to remove the tire but failed.

Wright said at the time, "This crocodile is very smart. It knows people, so if you try to approach, it dives into the water," adding, "Also, since the Palu River is rich in food, it’s not easy to lure it with bait."

Last February, Australian crocodile expert Matt Wright attempted to remove a tire from a crocodile's neck but failed. Photo by Matt Wright (Instagram capture).

Methods using bait traps were ineffective, and using a tranquilizer gun was deemed inappropriate because the crocodile could drown if it entered the water before being fully sedated.

Residents said, "We hadn’t seen the crocodile with the tire for quite some time," and expressed excitement and interest when it reappeared by the riverbank at the end of last month.

The Natural Resources Conservation Agency reportedly stated, "The budget allocated for removing the tire from the crocodile was redirected to respond to the COVID-19 situation," and added, "Once the COVID-19 situation is over, we will attempt to rescue the crocodile again."