Tribute to Green Island’s George Craig, last of the great crocodile hunters

A 94-year-old man known for his friendship with his “best friend” – the world’s largest crocodile in captivity – has passed away overnight in Cairns.

George Craig had lived and worked at Marineland Melanesis on Green Island, off the coast of Cairns, with his late wife, Shirley, since the 1970s.

Cassius, a record 5.48m reptile estimated to have been 120 years old when he died earlier this month, was among the many crocodiles Mr Craig cherished at his beloved nature park.

After living on the island for half a century, Mr Craig moved into aged care in Cairns in October, and Cassius, who “bought joy and companionship for his best friend George for more than 37 years”, passed away a few weeks later.

In a social media post, Mr Craig’s family said he died peacefully last night with his daughter by his side.

colorful life

Born in Peru in 1930, Mr Craig moved to London before the start of the Second World War.

In his youth, he hitchhiked across France and picked bananas in Jamaica, then was captured while trying to hide on a ship bound for the Persian Gulf.

He then arrived in Melbourne and sailed to Adelaide, where he bought a rifle, before heading to the Northern Territory and Papua New Guinea, where he became a hunter.

In the 1970s, he and Shirley settled on Green Island after purchasing the nature park they would call home for more than 50 years.

Shirley passed away in 2022 at the age of 91.

The crocodile hunter has helped put Far North Queensland on the map as a destination for wildlife, nature and reef tourism.

Hunter goes green

Crocodile experts remember Mr Craig’s extraordinary life.

Professor Graeme Webb, of Crocodylus Park in Darwin, first met Mr Craig during the delivery of Cassius in the Northern Territory in the late 1980s.

“When Cassius died it wouldn’t have been good news for George. They were very close,” Professor Webb said.

“The relationship between the two was definitely strange.

“George will have to stay away from the window because Cassius will jump out of the water.”

Professor Webb said Mr Craig was one of the last “serious” crocodile hunters to freely share his unique knowledge.

Charlie Manolis, chief scientist at Wildlife Management International, recalled Mr Craig was one of the first people to campaign for the protection of crocodiles in Australia.

“The knowledge he has been able to impart to visitors and children at Marineland Melanesia has become very, very valuable,” Mr Monolis said.

Northern Territory crocodile hunter Roger Matthews said Mr Craig had inspired him to pursue a career in the industry.

Mr Matthews went on to examine Mr Craig’s rich collection of ‘man-eating’ Papua New Guinea crocodile skulls.

“He’s caught some of the biggest crocodiles in the world,” Mr Matthews said.

He said the relationship between Mr Craig and Cassius was “wonderful to watch”.

“You had to see it to believe it,” he said.

“They were equal; they were mates.”

Unique character, friend and mentor

Member for Cairns Michael Healy said Mr Craig was a “unique character”.

“He made an incredible contribution to the tourism industry,” the former state tourism minister said.

“I traveled all over the world selling Cairns and everyone was talking about Green Island and knew about Cassius and Marineland Melanesis.

Leichardt MP Warren Entsch said Mr Craig would be missed.

“I’m sitting here looking at the photo of George and I with the Bone Cruncher hanging on the wall – I’m so, so sad.

“He was such a good friend. He was such a mentor.”