Meet Prince William, Australia Zoo’s 300th Tagged Crocodile
By Conservation Correspondent
A giant saltwater crocodile named Prince William has become the 300th crocodile tagged as part of Australia Zoo’s world-leading research project in Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula.
The 3.8-metre male was captured in the Wenlock River system on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve in August and named by Robert Irwin in recognition of the Prince of Wales’ commitment to conservation.
Scientists carried out health checks, measurements, DNA sampling and fitted the crocodile with acoustic and satellite tracking devices before releasing him back into the river.
The technology will allow researchers to follow Prince William’s movements for years to come, adding to a growing body of knowledge about one of Australia’s most iconic predators.
The research project, run by Australia Zoo in partnership with The University of Queensland, builds on techniques pioneered by Steve Irwin in the 1980s. It has helped scientists better understand crocodile movements, nesting, diet, social behaviour and the effects of climate change.
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Robert Irwin, an ambassador for The Earthshot Prize, said naming the 300th crocodile was a fitting way to celebrate the shared importance of conservation.
“Through research, innovation and collective action, we can find solutions that protect our natural world,” he said.
The milestone marks another chapter in the Irwin family’s long-running commitment to crocodile research and conservation — work that aims to help both people and crocodiles thrive in the wild.
