A white-headed crocodile known as Michael Jackson has been shot dead by police, after the carnivore apparently killed a fisherman in front of his wife in northern Australia.
A 57-year-old fisherman was attacked by the 4.5-metre crocodile late yesterday as he waded into the Adelaide river to unsnag his fishing line. His wife was also with him during the attack.
She heard a scream and turned around only to see "a tail splashing in the water", police said.
Police and wildlife officers searched the river using multiple boats, and located and shot a 4.5-metre crocodile known as 'Michael Jackson' a few hours later, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported today.
The man was taken 100 metres from where the jumping crocodile tourist boats embark. This is a fourth attack by crocodile towards human beings in Australia's northern territory this year.
Adelaide river is a well-known crocodile hot spot where tourists watch the huge reptiles propel their bodies from the water to seize dangled hunks of meat.
Meanwhile, Adelaide River Queen Cruises owner Tony Blums told the ABC that "If it is Michael Jackson it'd be a very sad event," of the well-known animal.
"He's a unique half-albino. He's a very nice crocodile. There was about one crocodile for every 100 metres of river, and Michael Jackson would have been "just below the water" before he attacked", Blums said.
The killer crocodile is believed to be a rare half-albino who had regularly approached the cruise ships.
The number of crocodiles in Australia have increased since being declared a protected species in 1971. They are a common in its tropical northern region.
The Australian government had rejected a controversial plan to allow crocodile safari hunting in the Northern territory in March.
