Sri Lankan wildlife officials rescued a massive crocodile on Monday after it got stuck in a canal in the southern city of Matara while looking for food, according to local media.

Reports said the reptile, discovered in a canal leading to the Nilwala river, was believed to weigh close to a ton and measured 17 feet (5.18 m) long.

"We found a similar size crocodile four, five months back in the Polathumodara river. This is the maximum these type of crocodiles grow," environmentalist, Uppala Jayatissa told local television.

Local media said the crocodile was searching for food after water levels rose due to heavy rain.

"With the help of the villagers and the police we achieved what we wanted, which was to send the crocodile back to where he came from without hurting him in any way," wildlife department official, Ravindra Kumar said. "The reptile was too big to move out of here on its own."