11°c A few clouds
18°c Sunny
The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
Largest crocodile in captivity being mourned by Philippine town where it brought fame, money
FILE- In this Sept. 6, 2011 photo, "Lolong," the world's largest saltwater crocodile in captivity according to the Guinness World Records, rests in his pen, two days after being captured by residents and staff of a crocodile farm along a creek in Bunawan township, Agusan Del Sur province in southern Philippines. The saltwater male crocodile, measuring 20.24 feet (6.17 meters) died Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/File)
MANILA, Philippines - A remote southern Philippine town has gone into mourning over the death of the world's largest saltwater crocodile in captivity, even though it was suspected of killing people.
Bunawan town plans to preserve the remains of the 1-ton crocodile, named Lolong, in a museum to keep tourists coming and stop the community from slipping back into obscurity, the mayor said Monday.
Lolong was declared dead Sunday after being found floating on its back with a bloated stomach in a pond in an ecotourism park which had begun to draw tourists, revenue and development because of the immense reptile, Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde said.
"The whole town, in fact the whole province, is mourning," Elorde said. "My phones kept ringing because people wanted to say how affected they are."
Wildlife experts will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death, he said.
Guinness World Records had proclaimed it the largest saltwater crocodile in captivity last year, measuring the giant at 6.17 metres (20 feet 3 inches). The reptile took the top spot from an Australian crocodile that measured more than 5 metres (17 feet) and weighed nearly a ton.
Estimated at more than 50 years old, the crocodile was named after a government environmental officer who died from a heart attack after travelling to Bunawan in Agusan del Sur province to help capture the beast.
Even though Lolong was blamed for the deaths of several villagers over the years, Bunawan villagers grew to love the giant reptile because it came to symbolize the rich biodiversity of the marsh where it was captured. The vast complex of swamp forests, shallow lakes, lily-covered ponds and wetlands is home to many animals, including threatened species such as the Philippine hawk eagle.
Various religious groups offered prayers Monday and spiritual leaders also planned to perform a tribal funeral rite, which involves butchering chickens and pigs to thank forest spirits for the fame and other blessings the crocodile has brought, Elordie said.
The rite is to be held at the ecotourism park, where the reptile was a star attraction, drawing foreign tourists, scientists and wildlife journalists to Bunawan, a town of 37,000 people about 515 miles (830 kilometres) southeast of Manila.
The crocodile's capture in September 2011 sparked celebrations in the town. It was caught with steel cable traps during a hunt prompted by the death of a child in 2009 and the later disappearance of a fisherman. Water buffalos have also been attacked by crocodiles in the area.
About 100 people led by Elorde pulled the crocodile from a creek using ropes and then hoisted it by crane onto a truck.
Philippine officials had planned to construct a road to the park to accommodate the growing number of tourists, Elorde said.
He said Lolong will be preserved so tourists and villagers can continue to marvel at it.
"I'd like them to see the crocodile that broke a world record and put our town on the map," Elorde said.
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- New owner for lumber stores
- Peeping Tom portrayed as sexual deviant in court
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Man killed after test drive a regular guy, and it cost him his life: widow
- Housing slowdown to worsen, cost 150,000 jobs, says mortgage group
- Report: Garcia apologizes for saying he'd serve Woods "fried chicken"
- Man agrees to 2-year prison term for vandalizing 1929 Picasso painting at Houston museum
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Rainfall warning issued for southern Manitoba
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- New owner for lumber stores
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Paying bills and consumer consumption hurting Canadians' ability to save: study
- MP Bruinooge says Bill 18 could infringe on religious freedoms
- Elijah Harper: The humble man who said no
- Two charged in golf course burglary
- Doc's memoir portrays ERs as frantic, funny, frightening ... but never dull
- The 50th Super Bowl goes to the San Francisco Bay Area; 2017 title game to be in Houston
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Province removing red tape in alcohol sales
- Animals are animals, new ads say
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- Ontario steps in to help save ELA
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Retail sales in province see 2 per cent increase in February
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.