Sifis, the famous Cretan crocodile that became a nationwide sensation over the summer, was found dead on Sunday.
He was found belly-up, in an empty lake amid harsh winter conditions.
“The crocodile was found dead on Sunday,” regional water management official Vangelis Mamangakis said.
According to the first veterinary inspection, the six foot long Nile crocodile, who made the lake his home for the last nine months, probably died of cold exposure, as the waters froze and there was not sufficient food.
The reptile is believed to have been abandoned by his owner when he began to get too big, up to two years prior to the discovery by forest rangers.
Several team and individual efforts by specialists to capture the crocodile failed, making it an attraction for both tourists and locals.
Sifis was last seen alive on 14 February by a vet team responsible for the animals in the artificial lake located at the dam of Potamon.
He was nicknamed Sifis by the locals, as he seemed fearsome enough to be given a traditional male Cretan name, even though the gender hadn’t been specified as the reptile eluded the efforts of specialists to come near it.
“The last time, in February, an entire team spent a week out there. He was very happy in the lake, there was a lot for him to eat there.”
“It will be taken to the natural history museum of Heraklion for tests,” Mamangakis added.