The crocodile that became famous after its appearance in the 1986 film “Crocodile Dundee” has died, the Australian reptile and aquarium attraction where it lived announced on social media.
Burt, the iconic saltwater crocodile who appeared alongside Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski in the hit film, was believed to be over 90 years old.
Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin said in one Instagram post that Burt passed away peacefully at the weekend, “marking the end of an incredible era.”
“Burt’s life story is one of strength, resilience and a personality as bold as the Top End itself,” the post continued. “Captured in the 1980s in the Reynolds River, Burt became one of the world’s most recognizable crocodiles, appearing in Crocodile Dundee and helping to shape Australia’s image as a land of rugged natural beauty and a stunning wildlife.”
The aquarium said Burt arrived at Crocosarus Cove in 2008 and became a “fierce and fascinating ambassador for crocodile education”.
“Known for his independent nature, Burt was a confirmed bachelor, an attitude he made clear during his early years on a crocodile farm,” they said. “His fiery temper earned him the respect of his keepers and visitors alike, as he embodied the raw and indomitable spirit of the saltwater crocodile.”
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In the film, Hogan’s character Mick Dundee trades the Australian outback for the concrete jungle of New York after meeting an American journalist, played by Kozlowski. Burt is seen in a scene where Kozlowski’s character is attacked while kneeling by a stream.
Burt will be honored with a commemorative plaque at Crocosaurus Cove.