SYDNEY - It took five men and a tranquiliser dart to remove a monster 16-foot (five metre) saltwater crocodile from a trap in Australia's tropical north, park officials said Friday.

The giant reptile was snared near a popular swimming area on the outskirts of Darwin city which was closed due to high levels of bacteria in the water, said senior ranger Tom Nichols.

"This is the largest crocodile we've removed from the area in the last four years," said Nichols. "It is also the largest crocodile we've removed from any of our traps in 2009."

Nichols said the reptile was in good condition, and was believed to have made his way to the Berry Springs swimming spot from Darwin Harbour. He was taken by truck to the city's crocodile farm.

The Northern Territory has suffered two fatal crocodile attacks this year and is estimated to have Australia's largest population of the animals - some 80,000.