Lolong, the largest saltwater crocodile in captivity, has died in the Philippines.
Officials said the six-metre reptile, weighing more than 1,000 kg, flipped over with a bloated stomach and was declared dead several hours later.
The crocodile, blamed for the death of at least one person, was caught in September 2011 and then became the star attraction of an eco-tourism park.
Lolong was formally declared the world’s largest in captivity by Guinness World Records in 2012.
The crocodile was captured in the town of Bunawan after a three-week hunt involving dozens
The giant reptile, which measured 6.4 m (21ft) and weighed in at 1,075 kg (2,370 lb), had begun to draw local and foreign tourists to the town.
Bunawan Mayor Edwin Elorde said Lolong had been off color for a month.
“He refused to eat since last month and we noticed a change in the color of his faeces,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper.
“Our personnel also noticed an unusual ballooning of the reptile’s belly.”
Local vet Alex Collantes said that unseasonably cold weather could have affected the crocodile.
Edwin Elorde told the Inquirer wildlife experts would conduct an investigation into the death and said he hoped Lolong’s body could be preserved.
“In that way, people can still look and marvel at him,” he said.
Australian media say the mantle of largest saltwater crocodile in captivity may now pass back to Cassius, a 5.48 m reptile housed at a crocodile farm near Cairns in Queensland.
Lolong, the largest saltwater crocodile in captivity, has died in the Philippines
Saltwater crocodiles
- Also known as the estuarine crocodile, it is the world’s largest living crocodile
- It is capable of killing any animal or human that strays into its territory
- Body length: usually 4.2 m-4.8 m (13.8 ft-15.8 ft), although specimens of over 7 m (23 ft) have been recorded
- Weight: Male generally 408-520 kg (900 lb-1,140 lb), but have been known to exceed 1,000 kg (2,200 lb)
- Life expectancy: They can live for more than 100 years.
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The crocodile weighs one ton and is believed responsible for eating at least one fisherman, but this monster has finally been caught by 100 men in Philippines.
Measuring 21 ft (about 6.5 m), the monster is the largest crocodile captured alive in recent years.
World's largest crocodile has been caught in Philippines
The largest crocodile was caught, after a three-week hunt, in a creek in the Philippines by villagers who had lived in fear of it for more than 20 years.
The crocodile’s nearest rival in the monster stakes is Cassius, an Australian salt-water crocodile which measures a “mere” 18ft (5.5 m) and which is still on the loose in the Northern Territory.
The Philippine crocodile lived in a river system in Agusan, a poverty-stricken region 500 miles south east of Manila, but while it was a constant threat to villagers no-one was brave enough to try to capture it.
The monster crocodile was placed under observation and when it was witnessed by several villagers killing a water buffalo they knew their suspicions were right.
Many of the villagers posed beside the captured monster crocodile before it was driven off to a confined area
“We were very nervous about tackling this beast but it was our duty to deal with it because it was a threat to many villagers and their farm animals,” said the local mayor, Edwin Elorde.
“When I finally saw it after its capture I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“It was big enough to swallow three men all at once.”
The crocodile hunting was set in place after it was seen in a creek, with villagers setting four net traps, which the crocodile destroyed with a mighty snap of its jaws.
The second time hunters used traps made of steel cables and this time the animal failed to get away.
One hundred men were required to pull the monster crocodile on to the banks of the creek where, after a great deal of difficulty, it was bound up and then lifted by crane on to the back of a truck.
Hunters weren’t going to let the victory pass without having their photo taken, so many of the villagers posed beside their scaly captive before it was driven off to a confined area.
Many of the villagers posed beside the captured monster crocodile before it was driven off to a confined area
The crocodile, which have not been named yet, is destined for fame.
Villagers have been expecting monster to be the star attraction at a new eco-tourism park that is set up in Agusan.
“It will be the biggest star of the park,” said Mayor Elorde.
“The villagers, of course, are very happy that they have been able to turn this dangerous crocodile from a threat into an asset.”
But the 37,000 people who live in the region have been told not to rest on their laurels.
Many other large crocodiles remain in the rivers and people have been told not to venture into marsh areas alone at night.
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