Burt the Crocodile, ca. 1930 – 2024

Burt, a saltwater crocodile who weighed 1,500 pounds and “was thought to be over 90 years old” (by whom, I wonder?), died over the Dec. 21 weekend in Australia’s Crocosaurus Cove, where he had lived since 2008. Burt was referred to in many headlines as the star of Crocodile Dundee, which is rather a backhand slap to Paul Hogan. According to the Crocosaurus spokesperson, Burt was "one of the most recognized crocodiles in the world" (who are the others?). Burt was captured in the 1980s in the Reynolds River near Darwin, Australia. He went on to costar in the 1986 hit Crocodile Dundee, but after reading about his “fiery temperament” and “raw and untamed spirit,” I must say the Dundee cast and crew were damned lucky not to end up as Burt’s craft services snacks.