Floating trap snares 7.5-foot crocodile at Australian golf course

TOWNSVILLE, Australia, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- An Australian golf course that set out to snare a massive crocodile said one was captured, but it might not have been the croc they were looking for.

The Willows Golf Club in Townsville, Queensland, announced last week a massive floating trap had been placed in a water hazard to capture a crocodile repeatedly spotted wandering the course, and officials said the trap successfully snared a croc Tuesday.

Club head pro Josh Tindale said the crocodile captured Tuesday might not have been the previously-seen massive croc, dubbed Willow by the club.

"Early indications show that it might not be the one that we're chasing, it might not be Willow," Tinsdale told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. "Willow, like I said, was a little bit bigger than the one that come out, the one we pulled out was 2.3 meters [7.5 feet] and Willow has been estimated at well in excess of three [9.8 feet], so he might be still at large."

The club contacted the Department of Environment and Heritage, which removed the trap from the water and transferred the crocodile to a holding pen.

"[The crocodile] was reasonably placid. It seems to be reasonably familiar with people around it," wildlife officer Tony Frisby said.

Frisby said the croc will be turned over to a farm or registered zoo.

The golf course said officials are still on the lookout for Willow.

"We have a croc... but is it Willow? This one is measuring in at 2.3m! Great effort by the team from EHP! Very professional and fantastic at their job! Is Willow still at large... time will tell!" the club said in a Facebook post.