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DARWIN - Northern Territory rangers fear a crocodile that has its head stuck in a large tyre is slowly starving to death.
The 3.5m crocodile lives in the Mary River 150km from Darwin and is still strong enough to submerge, despite the tyre.
But it is unlikely to be able to swim fast enough to catch prey, the Northern Territory News reports.
NT Parks and Wildlife ranger Tom Nichols plans to harpoon the croc and remove the tyre.
"If the crocodile is in good condition, we'll let it go," he told the newspaper.
"Otherwise I'll bring it back to Darwin with me. I'll try to harpoon it during the day. If that doesn't work, I'll go after it at night."
Zoologist Grahame Webb of Darwin's Crocodylus Park said crocodiles could live for many months without feeding.
- AAP
