Mystery surrounds the fate of a one-ton crocodile that ‘ate over 300 people’

Mystery surrounds a giant man-eating crocodile that is said to have claimed 300 lives and evaded capture for years – despite hunters’ best efforts to prevent it from killing again.

The 20-foot Nile Crocodile, known as Gustavus, has terrorized residents of settlements near Lake Tanganyika, Burundi, East Africa, for years and has become part of local folklore.

It’s unclear if the beast, believed to weigh a ton, is still lurking in the troubled waters – although no evidence of its death has surfaced.

Many tried to capture or kill Gustave, but all attempts to do so ended in failure.

The 20ft Nile Crocodile, known as Gustave, has terrorized residents of settlements near Lake Tanganyika, Burundi, East Africa, for years

Experts have said Gustave could be as old as 100, although others dispute that he is more likely to be around 60 due to the integrity of his dental arch.

Records of his attacks on people living on the northeast shores of Lake Tanganyika date back to 1987, according to National Geographic.

Massive deaths over the years have been attributed to tribal warfare or a serial killer, but many suspect the monster crocodile.

Although it is doubtful that a single crocodile could be responsible for all the hundreds of deaths it is accused of, eyewitness reports describing it have some details in common.

Eyewitnesses almost invariably recall an abnormally large crocodile with the same scar on the top of its head, thought to be a gunshot wound.

The beast is said to have at least three gunshot wounds from which hunters have attempted to kill it, all without success.

Smaller crocodile depicted in the river where Gustave is thought to live. Reportedly, people living near his habitat on a river island disappeared when he was spotted.

Smaller traps were set before their final attempt, but all failed, with only smaller crocs trapped

Among them was a group of scientists who feature in a 2004 documentary, Capturing the Killer Croc.

It follows what it describes as a “rescue mission” which “aims to catch this giant predator and move it to safe waters before it kills again”.

But the team’s last attempt to capture Gustave with a sophisticated trap and live bait ends in failure.

The documentary shows them hoping to lure him out with the help of a live chicken, which is suspended above the water inside a massive cage.

The team’s last attempt to capture Gustave with a fancy trap and live bait ends in failure

They monitored the trap with an infrared camera and, after several unsuccessful nights, “reluctantly” decided to replace the chicken with a live goat.

But when they return the next day, the devastated team finds that all their efforts have been for naught.

The trap is wrecked in high water following a storm with the goat nowhere to be found.

They had no way of knowing what had happened to the trap and the goat, as the infrared camera had also been destroyed.

The documentary shows them hoping to lure him out with the help of a live chicken, which is suspended above the water inside a massive cage

After having had bad luck for several nights, “reluctantly” decide to replace the chicken with a live goat

The mysterious crocodile may even have run away with the bait and was strong enough to destroy the trap.

When their last attempt to secure the beast fails, the disappointed scientists are forced to abandon their mission and return home.

Smaller traps were set before their final attempt, but all failed, only smaller crocs were trapped.

After deftly evading capture for years, it’s unclear if the terrifying crocodile is still on the loose.

It was claimed to have been killed in 2019, but no evidence has emerged since, leaving people to fear the mysterious creature is still lurking in the river.