Wildlife authorities in the Philippines say they have captured a 21-foot-long, 2,370-pound saltwater crocodile, thought to be the largest creature of its kind now in captivity.
The croc was captured in Agusan del Sur marsh on the southern Philippine island of Mindinao, according to a report on GMA News. Hunters had been trying to capture it for 21 days, the report said. It was finally captured on Saturday by a team of about 30 men who used meat to bait it and an eight millimeter metal cable to snare it, according to an Agence-France Presse report on ABS.CBN News.
Edwin Cox Elorde, mayor of the remote town of Bunawan near where the croc was caught, said the reptile will become the star of a nature park there, according to the AFP report.
The previous largest crocodile in captivity is an 18-footer in Australia, according to Guinness World Records.
Crocodiles are suspected in the deaths of a local fisherman earlier this year and a girl a few years ago, according to the news reports, but authorities could not say whether the monster caught Saturday was responsible.
Cox Elorde told Inquirer news in the Philippines that there could be a thousand more large crocodiles in the marsh, but he denied earlier reports that locals would try to catch another.
He also said the croc captured Saturday has been named Lolong, after local hunter Ernesto “Lolong” Conate, who died of a stroke while helping plan the capture of the reptile.
That's a croc of sh!t!
"hunters would look for more massive reptiles in the marsh,"
you've got nothing to prove, guys. someone explain to them what a "world record" is, then explain the phrase "take the day off,".
I take it back! I just saw it on the news, and this thing is HUMONGOUS! Godzilla lives!
It's a crocodile but not a monster... What ignorance.
I agree Katie, all living beings deserve the right to live in peace as they each small children and fishermen.
Try using your brain before you post next time.
I agree, Katie. Calling it a monster implies that it lives to maliciously eat people and destroy lives, instead of merely surviving. Crocodiles were here before our kind began encroaching on its habitats, just like the countless other species that are villainized for foraging in cities after their homes are destroyed by humans. It's sad for every person and animal involved.
Holly comprehension fail. The word monster has more than one meaning. The meaning implied by this story is: large, largest of it's kind, really big. It has nothing to do with the use of the word monster as it applies to say frankenstein, or a wearwolf.
Too bad he didn't gobble up a few more humans prior to his life long imprisonment headed his way!
I'M SCARED.....
Why must people continue to "catch a trophy"? Leave this magnificent beast to live its life in it own environment. This croc is not a threat to us at all. It probably will not last long in it's new "home".
Amen. We posted our comments at the same time. Our 'culture' makes me want to throw up some times.
but it is a threat...crocodiles have killed two people in the past "few" years. maybe you should read past the first couple lines of the story
hey, Yea, I disagreed! Humans ARE threatening every animal more than any animal to us.. you should rethink it again about environment, nature and everything around you.
More people die from horses every year than dog bites, shark attacks and crocodiles in the entire world. Lets start hunting horses! Damn wild beasts....
it's not a threat to you, but it is to people who live around the area. stop complaining, you're not affected anyway. besides, they didn't kill the croc..
@yea, OH MY GOSH two people!? This thing is a murderer we must end its life right now! How hyppocrital and ignorant humanity is. If you guage the threat level of something as a function of how many people it kills, crocodiles are near the bottom of the list unlike tobacco or alcohol. Based on your argument we should definitely eliminate both of those IMMEDIATELY! Oh wait society is ok with people dying in that way but its ok to name a crocodile the scapegoat or black sheep.. people are so stupid.
@justin – i doubt that the crocodile's victims – a little girl included, was lounging around on their own accord and making pals with the reptile.
There had been people eaten. There are kids that cross the river in order for them to go to school. This particular area is a rural impoverish area.
Human beings are revolting. Let it go. Why do we feel the need to capture every living thing and turn it into a joke. Pathetic.
Tom, its ok. I accept your alternative lifestyle, please stop being a self loathing manic depressive.
Leave Brittney alone!!!
I lost a son but gained a daughter. Fruit.
HAHAHHAHA +1 to Tom's mom and dad. Where did you two go wrong with this boy?
It is not a Crocodile...it is but a man in a lizard suit! A particularly tall man!
The beast IS probably dangerous (I mean would YOU want it swimming in your backyard?). If left in the wild, it would probably grow even bigger...uncontrolled. Being in captivity may or may not be the best situation, but at least they didn't kill it "just" because it allegedly killed two fishermen.
i guess we should be grateful that animals are not as "intelligent" as we are because we are the most dangerous "animals" on earth, so going by your logic, we should be caught and put in captivity. crocs have been around for over 50 million years, so it's safe to say that we're encroaching on their habitat, not the other way around.
The article never said that that particular crocodile killed those two people. Just that crocodiles were responsible for 2 deaths in the past few years. And yes, crocodiles tend to be dangerous creatures, so are lions, rhinos, etc. Just because you come across one doesn't mean it belongs in captivity.
It's Lake Placid in real life!!!!!! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! 😉
nice – kill them all, then when they go extinct and their prey animals get out of control, sit back and wonder "Gee... how'd THAT happen?"
Only thing wrong with your comment is that they didn't kill it. It's being sent to a wildlife habitat. Nothing like spouting off without the facts.
Still not in the wild where it belongs. And he was talking about the entire species. Nothing like having no life, trolling forums all day looking to correct mundane details.
It's better it's caught, they did mention it killed a girl and local fishermen. And atleast they didnt eat it.
What the HELL, LET IT GO. Are you people crazy, this Croc will kill humans and even horses. I've heard of Giant Crocs that actually crawl into the stall & catch & kill horses in the Phillipines. Earlier this year a little girl was killed and several fishermen, this is why they were hunting it in the first place. A 20' Croc weighting more than a ton could take out a small fishing boat. Florida has a law called stand your ground, meaning u have a right to kill a human being if u feel threathen but if you shoot someone's dog aggressive chargin at you you are in lots of trouble. U animal lovers are pathetic
So agree with you.... we need a law making it ok to hunt dangerous animal lovers...
@buttery_comp: So then can I hunt and kill you? By numbers alone we are the most dangerous and destructive animals in the world. Just cuz we have more evolved brains than say this crocodile we conclude that somehow we have a greater right to life than animals? Some peoople certainly don't sound like they have a very 'evolved' brain
People are invading their habitat, and they were here first in fact they existed LONG before humans did. Would you defend your home if someone came in uninvited? Can't blame the crock if you go walking right to the river when you know they live there. That is the risk you take when you walk into their territory, its called co-existing with the environment.. you sound like a moron.
Those filipinos will end up eating that croc sooner or later I'm sure of it
How can you be so sure?
Doodi...do you really think so? common???
Now let's just take this mask off and see who the 'monster' really is...
Jinkie!! It was the town mayor all along!
Tastes like chicken. MMMMMmmmmm Good