Burt the Saltwater Crocodile, Star of Crocodile Dundee, Dies at 90: 'End of an Incredible Era
According to his caregivers at Crocosaurus Cove Darwin, where Burt had resided for 16 years, the reptile died over the weekend.
A crocodile The death of Burt the Saltwater Crocodile, a movie icon, has left Dundee fans in mourning.
A representative for Crocosaurus Cove Darwin wrote a heartbreaking Facebook post on Sunday, December 23, revealing that the more than five-meter-long reptile had “passed away peacefully” over the weekend. Since 2008, Burt had resided at the Australian landmark.
According to The Independent, Burt weighed an incredible 700 kg and was thought to be over 90 years old. Darwin described Crocosaurus Cove’s death as “the end of an incredible era.”
“Captured in the Reynolds River in the 1980s, Burt rose to prominence as one of the world’s most famous crocodiles, making an appearance in Crocodile Dundee and contributing to the perception of Australia as a country with breathtaking wildlife and untamed natural beauty,” the Facebook post stated.
According to the BBC, the film, which stars Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski, continues to be the highest-grossing Australian film ever.
“Fierce and fascinating,” according to a Darwin attraction spokesperson, Burt spent his final years assisting in crocodile education. They claimed that he maintained “the raw and untamed spirit of the saltwater crocodile” while earning respect for his “fiery temperament.”
“Burt was genuinely unique. The Facebook post went on, “He was more than just a crocodile; he was a force of nature and a reminder of the majesty and power of these amazing creatures.” According to the statement, he had a “challenging” personality, but that was part of what made him so “memorable and beloved.”
“The Crocosaurus Cove staff would like to express their gratitude to everyone who came to see Burt and helped commemorate his extraordinary life. We are reminded as we grieve his passing of the significance of wildlife in our common past and the need to protect it for coming generations,” the post said.
In recognition of Burt’s legacy, Crocosaurus Cove Darwin will erect a memorial sign at the attraction.
According to the U.S. Sun, Marie-Clare Boothby, Minister for Parks and Wildlife, paid tribute to the crocodile during her Monday media appearance.
She declared, “[Burt was] a true icon of the Territory.”
