ST AUGUSTINE SHORES, Fla. — The man who captured the iconic 18-foot crocodile displayed at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm in St. Augustine died in November at the age of 94. The Alligator Farm released a statement Monday celebrating George Craig's life, announcing that an exhibit paying tribute to him will be added to the Gomek display.
Called the "last of the big croc hunters," Craig captured Gomek in 1968 when residents of a town in Papua New Guinea asked him for help with the crocodile, who was "terrorizing" the Fly River, according to the Alligator Farm. Craig brought Gomek to his home in Daru island, then was kept at Marineland Melanesia and later to a wildlife sanctuary in Florida. In 1989, he came to his last home at the Alligator Farm.
After his death in 1997, Gomek was stuffed and is still on display today.
He attracted visitors from all over to beloved both due to his enormous size and his tameness, being called a "gentle giant."
Craig also helped to capture Maximo and Sydney, the Alligator Farm's saltwater crocodiles. He also helped the zoo acquire art from New Guinea and Oceania. His own art is also displayed in the Alligator Farm's education building.
"His personal collection... was as breathtaking as his adventurous spirit," a press release from the Alligator Farm said.
Craig was born in 1930 in Peru and died Nov. 18 in Australia. His life was immortalized in To Catch a Crocodile, written in 1976 by Australian Peter Pinney.
"His adventurous spirit continued to inspire all who knew him, and he remained a passionate supporter of wildlife conservation throughout his life," the statement from the Alligator Farm reads.
“George was an exceptional man whose life was filled with adventure and achievement,” David C. Drysdale, owner of the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, said. “He was not only a pioneering wildlife conservationist, but also an artist and a storyteller who touched the lives of all who had the honor to know him. George’s legacy is forever intertwined with the Alligator Farm, and we will always treasure his friendship, his contributions, and the incredible memories we shared.”
The new display in the Gomek exhibit will include a model of Craig's boat, the "Janis B," and photographs and memorabilia from Craig's life.
“We will continue to honor George’s memory through our work and our dedication to the conservation of these magnificent creatures,” Drysdale said. “We were fortunate to have known such a remarkable individual, and we are grateful for the indelible mark he has left on this place.”
