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.
The most amazing thing about about the photo is not the crocodile. It's that someone actually owns an "Ira Newble" or "Medvedenko" Lakers jersey.
How sad. "Capture" Removal from nature.......Hard to watch as man (once a natural being) continues to devastate it's own humanness. I hope this being (the 21' age old wise reptile) dies peacefully and quickly in captivity and allows the Wild Natural Spirit to remain free. it's not a spectator sport people it's a fellow being equally allowed to live.
I agree.
I agree with teri............................
The locals did not catch the crocodile for sport. It killed a water buffalo and is suspected of being the same one that killed a girl who fell out of a boat while crossing a river to go to school, and the death of another fisherman earlier this year.
Many families there rely on water buffaloes to help plow the farm, transport produce and as a source of fresh milk. Some families own only 1 water buffalo. Poorer ones share an animal between two families. Most likely, this particular crocodile have been getting too close to the village.
How would you want one come and go in your backyard?
Some crocagator ate my kangaroo mate!
They should of kept it alive and shipped it to iraq, Start using things we kill to kill!
Is this guy bigger than Gutstave?
It is highly publicized. They won't kill it because if they do the Senators and Congressmen will jump to the issue and demanding investigations. It was captured for the safety of the croc and the villagers.
I agree ............ Go Mindanao my home sweet home
who will tag and keep track of it? as well as relocating it somewhere where it can't wander into our backyards? with limited resources, we certainly cannot afford to do so.
I agree domzki – it was captured (as opposed to removed from nature) to protect the community. Let us not be too short sighted on this one as the villagers kept the animal alive – that in itself shows great restraint after it was suspected of killing a little girl. Those who say the filipinos are barbarians should think twice and look inward into their own culture befor saying anything – cudos to the people of Agusan del Sur
Poor croc..!!he's just trying to survive and now he's heading an artificial solitary cell..
It is always in human nature to react quicly to an issue without knowing that he's the one causing the issue and he is the issue.
why is there a need to eliminate when there's a way to co-exist?
don't be such a wuss, they captured it because it got out of a protected wildlife area and moved to a populated area
Don’t be so naïve. If the croc was a few feet smaller the locals would have ended up killing it. This crocs only saving grace is because of its record size. Co-existing with nature doesn’t apply when humans are at risk.
Maybe when they grow thumbs they can tie us up and put us in trucks
I'm a little bit disturbed that many people here are broken-hearted and insulted about 3rd world villagers capturing a potential predator and trophy. It shows that they (you) are more concerned with the welfare of a murderous creature rather than people trying to make it by or their way of life. I know many of you are shouting bloody murder because they are being "cruel" but I think we should get our priorities straight when it comes to the values we want to display to lesser developed areas who have their own culture...
These Europeans and the Americans are selfish people they can spend billions of dollars on their dogs and cats but have very little left for the hungry people of third world
Catching a creature like this makes the town a safer place to live. Hunters should search for more, I believe the croc will have a mate.
Look at that gigantic tail, I thought it was a pride of dinosaurs
Wildlife in Agusan marsh still healthy. but if the government will not stop the illegal logging activities in the area the ecosystem in that area will be disrupted. What happened in davao del norte, the neighbor province of agusan, will also happen to that area. Now what you in this part of province are banana plantations, rice farms and other agricultural farms. I have nothing againts farming since it is the source of our food needs. It's the chemicals they use that destroys the rivers. I use to see crocs in the rivers of davao del norte, now you cant even catch big fish anymore and the crocs are gone. I hope they will go back to organic farming. It's safe for the environment and safe for the people who consumes it.
simply pointing out:the croc has been found on the river and not being hunted on the marsh,that the said creature alleged to victimize.indeed i do wish that the authority will make a proper custody and justification towards the animl.stop being racist.