A HUGE CROCODILE which was blamed for a series of killings before it was captured last year has been declared the largest of its kind in captivity anywhere in the world.
Guinness World Records yesterday officially declared the giant, known as Lolong in the Philippines where it was captured, is the biggest saltwater crocodile out of the wild.
The news sparked celebrations in Bunawan, a farming town of 37,000 in Agusan del Sur province, but Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde said it also fostered concerns that more giant crocodiles might lurk in a marshland and creek where villagers fish.
“There were mixed feelings,” Elorde said by telephone. “We’re really proud because it proves the rich biodiversity of our place but at the same time, there are fears that Lolong may not be alone.”
Lolong measures 20.24 feet (6.17 metres) and weighs more than a ton, Guinness spokeswoman Anne-Lise Rouse said in a statement seen Sunday.
The reptile took the top spot from an Australian crocodile that measured more than 17 feet (5 metres) and weighed nearly a ton.
The crocodile was captured with steel cable traps during a three-week hunt after a child was killed in 2009 and a fisherman went missing. Water buffalos have also been attacked by crocodiles in the area.
About 100 people led by Elorde pulled the crocodile from a creek using a rope and then hoisted it by crane onto a truck. It was named after a government environmental officer who died from a heart attack after traveling to Bunawan to help capture the beast, Elorde said.
Elorde said he saw a bigger crocodile escape when Lolong was captured and villagers remain wary of fishing there at night.
Lolong has become the star attraction of a new ecotourism park and research center in the outskirts of Bunawan and has drawn thousands of tourists since news of its capture spread. Elorde said his town has earned 3 million pesos ($72,000) from the modest entrance fees at the park, with most of the money being used to feed and care for the crocodile and maintain the park.
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