Headless Crocodile Discovered in Australia, Stirs Mystery and Sparks Debate on Cause of Death

A headless crocodile discovered on a beach in Australia has stirred mystery and sparked a debate on its cause of death, according to local reports.

One disturbing theory indicated that the reptile was killed by another crocodile and its head was taken by a trophy hunter.

However, it is still unclear how the decapitated body stumbled on the Australian beach.

The incident involving the decapitation of the crocodile's head is considered unusual since their skin is hard for it to be torn off and they are known for being aggressive predators, even posing a threat to humans.

In the case of same-species conflict or cannibalism, such as between saltwater crocodiles, experts asserted that such events are rare.

Headless Crocodile Incident

(Photo : Photo by EZEQUIEL BECERRA/AFP via Getty Images)

Local photographer Tom Chalmers Hayes, who focuses on crocodiles, was the one who discovered the headless crocodile in Cow Bay, Queensland, it was reported on Wednesday, April 19.

In an Instagram post, Hayes with the username "crocodile_beers" uploaded several photos of the decapitated crocodile, describing that the "poor old croc" was killed and left to rot.

The photographer in his caption also mentioned clear machete marks on the crocodile which sustained no wounds that could link that another male crocodile attacked him.

With this, he alleged that the croc's head was taken as a trophy based on the said marks.

Also Read: Crocodile Rips 15-Year-Old Boy Into Pieces While Fishing with Friends in Indonesia

Local Investigation

Queensland Environment officials conducted an investigation into the headless crocodile incident.

However, they told the Nationwide News Australia that a necropsy, or animal autopsy, was not conducted as the crocodile's body was already in deep state of decomposition.

In contrast to the theory that a local trophy hunter killed the crocodile, local authorities are also considering the angle that a fight with a rival crocodile could have been the cause of death, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reported.

Potential Trophy Killing

Amid the mysterious decapitation of the crocodile, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service said its staff were unable to determine as well the cause of death.

Due to its rotting state, the four-meter giant crocodile, whose skull was missing, was buried on the country, local media reports said.

Chalmers also told Nationwide News Australia that even if the crocodile died of natural causes, he was sure in a certain degree that it had been mutilated after death.

Recent Crocodile Attacks

The incident follows several Australia crocodile attacks in the past several months, including a recent one in Far North Queensland.

On April 8, a man in his 40s was wounded but survived a crocodile attack by sticking his fingers into its eyes in the waters off Archer Point, near Cooktown, Australia's ABC News reported.

On April 4, a man sustained injuries after a crocodile attacked him while he was sleeping along Newell Beach, north of Port Douglas.

In late February, another man in his 30s survived a crocodile attack along Bloomfield River, south of Cooktown.