A crocodile that had a tyre stuck on its neck for six years has finally been set free.
The 13ft-long beast was first spotted floating through the canal with the old motorcycle rubber tyre around its body just below its head in Palu City, in Indonesia's Sulawesi province in 2016.
Experts feared that the saltwater crocodile would be strangled as its body continued to grow while the tyre refused to budge.
A reward was put up in January 2020 for anyone brave enough to remove the item and despite dozens of people trying, all of the attempts were unsuccessful.
But on Monday February 7 night, brave local Hili, 35, who worked as a crocodile caretaker captured the beast and released the tyre
He said he wrestled with the croc and dragged it ashore using ropes with the help of several locals. They then hacked through the tyre using a saw - with onlookers erupting in cheers when it was finally removed.
Hili said: "I've been preparing to catch this crocodile for several weeks. This is the best achievement of my life."
He added the crocodile had not been seen for several months but reappeared in the river on Sunday February 6. The man immediately set up a snare system using ropes, bamboo, and chicken as bait around the area.
At around 6:30 pm, the crocodile was successfully caught in one of the traps with locals eager to help the animal catcher.
Hili added: "That was my own trap, but I asked for help from residents to lift it ashore. There were probably 50 people who helped lift it.
"It's been three times this crocodile had escaped my snares. Luckily, today it worked. I am glad it is now free."
Hill said the crocodile was sedated once it was brought ashore so that it did not attack anyone.
Officers from the Palu City Fire and Rescue Service as well as staff from the provincial environmental department helped take the ring out of the animal's neck and released the creature back to Palu River.
