NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service investigating dead crocodile found on the Murray River

Brent Lodge posted a video online of what appears to be a dead, skinned crocodile floating downstream of Barham on Sunday afternoon. The story and video have gone viral.

"NPWS staff inspected the animal on Wednesday and arranged for its disposal," a NPWS spokesperson said. "NPWS has been in touch with police and other relevant agencies. Investigations are continuing.

Related: Man finds skinned croc in the Murray

"Harming native fauna is an offence and anyone with information can report it to NPWS via the environment line 131555."

Mr Lodge said he didn't expect the video or story to gain such widespread interest.

"Mate, it's got that much legs behind it," he said. "It's a video I only did to show my friends, because otherwise they wouldn't have believed me. Now its going everywhere.

"I was talking to Dad about it this morning and he said 'did you type it into Google?' I typed 'croc found in Barham' and the story has gone as far away as the Northern Territory."

Mr Lodge grew up in Barham, on the Murray River, and said it was rare to find unusual things in the water.

"This is probably the one thing that stands out, for sure," he said.

Freshwater and salt water crocodiles are protected species under Australian law. The illegal taking of a crocodile could warrant a penalty of more than $28,000 in some states.

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