Not OT, a bloomin big crocodile- 29 feet.

ok, its a bit OT, but its interesting and related to our field of interest .. and FYI, its thoroughly authenticated, search 'Krys the Savannah King'.

'This is a life size model of a 28'4" salt-water crocodile with a girth of 13' situated in the LEW Henry Park behind the Council Chambers. Krystina Pawloski, it made her a famous Crocodile Hunter in the Gulf region, shot the actual crocodile that "Krys" is modeled on, in 1957. She was only nineteen at the time nearly straight out of Poland, and she used an old army .303 cal.'

(crocs were open slaughter in Aus in 1957 to get rid of them, and were protected after the early 60's.)

Very interesting. I think there's a model of the same croc here in the states in Virginia.

Peter Chapstick, in his book Death in the Tall Grass, talked African croc and got my attentioin when he said the ones over 13 feet would stand four feet at the shoulder when moving. The weight of your croc must be north of 7000 pounds-maybe way north.

I found a quote from the hunter that said it was too heavy to move so it was left where it was. There's a tourist shot of this one and it's shoulder high on a guy at the crocs front leg. the pics were protected so I couldn't get that one.

I wonder why this is called the Savannah King ,and that there's a copy in Virginia?, very odd. Imagine if this guy was still alive to be looked at, holy cow... thats what it'd be feeding on, water buffalo, and kangaroos for toothpicks.

I'm pretty sure I've seen another one like this, a real one, that ate outboards off the back of boats in Darwin and for the pic had a whole class of 30 odd kids standing along its back, estimated age was way over 100. The internets awesome, all this lost stuff is coming out where we can find it again.

It's all true. I know, as I married one like that - but bigger and worser

Makes one wonder if the girl who shot that bad boy had any souveniers or artifacts made out of it's hide and if those things still might be around in someone's collection. It should have been obvious to her that her kill was one for the record book. I would add that I'm glad I live FAR from where those hideous animals live!
Sure would like to get a look at those pictures, might even see the rifle she used.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

It's all true. I know, as I married one like that - but bigger and worser

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Is the couch in the den quite comfortable Peter?

Here's the story on the copy in Virginia. It's at White's Truck Stop on I-81, exit 5 up north east of Radford a ways. The truck stop is a very interesting place as it has a nice collection of rare guns along both sides of the hall way leading to the dining area where the croc is displayed. The waitress I asked said the owner of the place was rich old dude who traveled the world collecting all kinds of things and upon hearing of the giant croc went to Australia in the late '50's to buy it and bring it to the U.S.A.. The best he could do,being unsucessful at purchasing the actual body, was have body cast made then make the model from that. I did'nt really believe the story and had forgotten it existed until i read RJ's post and realized the stories were quite similar. I saw it in 2005 and if i remember correctly the model was covered with what appeared to be real crocodile hide pieced together and it looked like it had some age to it. I wish now i'd taken some pictures. I still think the Virginia story is a hoax gleened from the internet, just can't explain the model.

Sure would like to get a look at those pictures, might even see the rifle she used.

Re Vintage Hunter; if the story was this well known at the time, maybe you're right, there should be some artifacts around someplace...

lol, nothing like getting a determined 303 fan on the trail of a good story, ...

Ten minutes later;
OK, here's a great little outline about her, passed away 2004, and her husband, who lives at the time of this story 2008...

Death of a monster | The Australian

Now, I wonder if we've got some earnest aussie in Cape York (if that whole place didn't just get knocked flat) who might know if that old rifle still exists at Ron's place?