Aussie croc wrangler joins Indonesia bid to save tire-trapped reptile

PALU, Indonesia — An Australian television personality has thrown his hat in the ring to help capture a giant Indonesian crocodile and remove a motorcycle tIre stuck around its neck.

Matt Wright, host of National Geographic's "Monster Croc Wrangler" show, was on the island of Sulawesi Thursday with a team using traps baited with duck, a drone and even a harpoon in a bid to reel in the reptile.

"It [the harpoon] doesn't hurt the crocodile," the croc wrangler told reporters Thursday in the city of Palu.

"It just goes in a little bit. It's like getting your ears pierced."

Wright told more than 200,000 followers on Instagram that the team had trapped a smaller croc on Wednesday "training for the main event."

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great night last night ???????? We got the local wildlife team BKSDA together & headed out to catch the crocodile we‘re after. Once on the water the team leader asked me if we could catch a smaller croc as a training so I could show everyone what to do before the main event. Environmental conditions in the water out here are very tough, coupled with the fact this croc isn’t hungry because of the large food source in the river so we need to make sure we are as prepared as we can be for this challenge and that everyone knows what their role is during the catch. Its been a great journey over here working in partnership with this local community and the Indonesian Goverment. I’m loving being able to share my knowledge with my new Indonesian mates and show them how to catch and release a large saltwater crocodile in a skilled and most importantly, humane way. And I’ve learnt a thing or two as well which I’m looking forward to taking back to Oz. We are now honing in on the big fella to relieve him of the tire around his neck but more than anything I’m thrilled as part of this mission and to leave these key skills and education behind with this great team Stay tuned. #wildlife #conservation #education @bksdasulteng @willow_nt #indonesia #australia @australia #friends #worktogether #globalpartner

A post shared by Matt Wright (@mattwright) on

Feb 12, 2020 at 2:54pm PST

But catching the bigger beast was a challenge, he said, because of the tough environment and the fact that it wasn't hungry due to ample food in the river.

"If we don't get him this trip with me over here, the boys will keep the trap set. They'll keep trying," Wright said.

"We might not catch him in two days... but eventually we should catch him."

Wright, joined by fellow Australian crocodile wrangler Chris Wilson, is working with the local conservation agency, which has struggled for years to rescue the croc.

The animal made headlines last month after a competition was rolled out offering punters an unspecified financial reward for any brave individual who captures the four metre (13-foot) beast.

Officials later called off the contest and said they would redouble efforts to free the croc from its rubber vice, which conservationists feared could endanger the croc's safety.

Thousands of curious spectators who have turned up to watch may be thwarting rescue efforts, Wilson said.

"It's very cunning and it's very smart," he said.

"He knows people, so he's scared of people. When you try and get close to him, he just gets underwater." — Agence France-Presse