Reward announced for removing tire from crocodile’s neck in Indonesia

An Indonesian province has offered a reward for removing a motorcycle tire that got stuck around an enormous wild crocodile's neck, reports CNN.  

The 13-foot (4-meter) crocodile has been carrying the tire since 2016, when it was first spotted roaming the Palu River in the province of Central Sulawesi.

The crocodile did not get rid of the tire even after surviving an earthquake and tsunami that struck the region in 2018, according to Indonesia's state-run Antara news agency.  

Central Sulawesi's Natural Resources Conservation Office (BKSDA) this week launched a contest to free it, fearing the reptile may get strangled.

"A reward will be given to anyone who can release the hapless reptile," said Central Sulawesi BKSDA chief Hasmuni Hasmar who did not disclose any more details of the reward.

According to Antara, there have been previous attempts to remove the tire. In 2018, conservationist and "animal whisperer" Muhammad Panji made an attempt, and later that year the conservation office tried to lure the animal with meat. Both attempts were unsuccessful.