They found a prosthesis in a crocodile and now relatives of the missing look for clues

A crocodile breeder in Australia who found an orthopedic plate in the stomach of one of them said on Thursday that the device had been brought by a person and relatives of missing persons had contacted him to obtain information. indices.

The owner of the Koorana Crocodile Farm, John Lever, discovered the plaque inside a 4.7 meter long crocodile called MJ during the autopsy that took place in June in his establishment located near Rockhampton, in the state of Queensland.

At first, Lever was not sure if the unusual find had belonged to an animal or a human. But he said that since he had released the photographs, he had been told that he was of a type used in people surgeries.

Leverage calculated that Mr. J. was between the ages of 50 and 70 at the time of his death.

Fifty years ago, the crocodile could have eaten the bone attached to the plate by six screws, he said. All the remains of human tissue were digested by Mr. J. long before dying a few months after losing a fight with another crocodile.

The Queensland police told Lever that he had opened an investigation into a missing person and asked him to take the plate to Rockhampton headquarters on Friday.

A spokesperson for the insured police The badociated press I could not comment on that.

Lever continues to investigate in the hope of discovering the decade in which such plates were used and, perhaps, to whom he belonged.

"I would not call it an inquiry, we're investigating because it's all fascinating," Lever said. "Obviously, this crocodile has eaten something and this plate has remained in his stomach with everything and his screws."

Six years ago, Lever bought Mr. J. at an Innisfail hatchery, 1,000 kilometers north of Rockhampton. At one point, he was captured in the wild. Crocodiles are a protected species in Australia and are caught only if they pose a threat to humans.

"A few people have contacted us about their loved ones who have gone missing in northern Queensland and are eager to find out … nothing is known to these people, they just disappeared," said Lever. He added: "We will certainly keep you informed of any news we may have."

* AP