Where are gaint saltwater crocodiles?

Answer 1

The saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) has it's largest populations in northern Australia (particularly the Top End of the Northern Territory,) New Guinea and Bhitarkanika National Park of eastern India. The species is also found throughout Indonesia, Malaysia and the Solomon Islands in varying densities (some areas harbor large populations, others very small or non-existent.) Very small populations live in a few parts of the Philippines while other small populations live in the Sundarbans of India/Bangladesh. There is a remnant population in southern Myanmar and they also still exist in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Saltwater crocodiles are locally extinct in Vietnam, Thailand and possibly Cambodia. The most isolated population lives in the islands of Palau. The largest crocodiles in current times are likely found in either Australia, Bhitarkanika (India) or New Guinea....although giants are also found in Indonesia (usually when they are killed following an attack on a human.) The largest crocodile accurately measured was a saltwater crocodile from Papua New Guinea in 1980 (nearly 21 feet in length.) The supposed 23 foot saltwater crocodile from Bhitarkanika was not actually measured and was based on a visual observation from a park ranger (NOT a crocodile expert.) Visual observations are prone to over-exaggeration and Guinness has sense removed the claim. It is definitely possible for saltwater crocodiles to reach over 6 meters and possibly even 7 meters, but larger than that is unlikely. At any rate, crocodiles over 5 meters (16.5 feet) are rare and your best chances for seeing one are in one of the many rivers of Australia's Top End.