Unusual Death of a Crocodile Reveals a Decades-Old Mystery

The death of a crocodile at a farm took an unexpected turn when the farm owner decided to perform an autopsy to investigate the cause, leading to the discovery of a potential clue in a decades-old case.

In June 2019, a 4.7-meter-long crocodile named MJ met its demise during a fierce battle with another crocodile at the Koorana Crocodile Farm near Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. The incident would have gone unnoticed if the farm owner hadn’t decided to perform a necropsy on the animal to unravel the cause of its death.

During the procedure, an intriguing find emerged—a metal surgical plate, commonly used to fix broken bones in humans, was discovered inside the crocodile’s stomach. Upon further investigation, the farm owner traced the origins of the surgical plate to Switzerland. The product was an older version, heavily corroded by the stomach acid of the crocodile.

Interestingly, surgical plates are not only used in human surgeries but also employed by veterinary experts to repair bone fractures in animals.

The farm initiated an investigation and concluded that the surgical plate had likely been inside the crocodile’s stomach for approximately 45 to 50 years. It was revealed that MJ had only resided at the farm for about six years, previously living at another farm in North Queensland. The current farm owner had no knowledge of MJ’s natural habitat before coming to their farm, prompting them to reach out to MJ’s previous residence for more information.

Meanwhile, the farm owner sought the expertise of specialists from the United Kingdom to decipher the origin of the surgical plate. Through an email exchange, radiologist Dr. Phil Haslam and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Craig Gerrand, affiliated with Which Medical Device, confirmed that the surgical plate found within the crocodile’s stomach had indeed been used to fix human bones.

With this revelation, the farm manager grew more confident that their discovery could potentially solve a long-standing case or, at the very least, provide closure for the unfortunate family who had lost a loved one to a crocodile attack several decades ago.

The peculiar turn of events highlights the interconnectedness of seemingly unrelated incidents and the potential for an unexpected breakthrough in unresolved mysteries. Whether this discovery leads to solving a cold case or simply brings solace to grieving families, it sheds light on the fate of those whose destinies were lost in the depths of time, consumed by the jaws of a prehistoric predator.

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