700kg croc netted in Northern Territory

Photo / Northern Territory Govt

A monster saltwater crocodile has been taken out of the wild after being hauled from a river trap in the Northern Territory, NineMSN reported.

The 4.6 metre long reptile was caught by wildlife officers in the Katherine River, at Donkey Camp, about 10km from the town of Katherine.

Rangers said a member of the public last week reported seeing a large crocodile in the area, and the 700kg beast was snared at the popular fishing spot yesterday.

Its huge size meant it had to be sedated and dragged from the water using a 4-wheel drive truck.

Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Service Wildlife Ranger, Joey Buckerfield told NineMSN: "He was quite an impressive animal.

"He filled the trap out and had no trouble turning around."

The huge crocodile, which has been named Karl, is the largest of the 116 reptiles to be caught in the Northern Territory this year, but was the first to be pulled from the region.

He was tied down, taped up and taken to a croc farm in Darwin.