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.
at least they had the heart to capturing it and not killing the beast
I'm sure the crocodile would rather be tied down to a trailer than dead. Not!
They put it in a nature park. It'll probably eat better than it ever has in its life.
Aborigine medicine men would copulate with crocodiles in order to reach a higher level of chi with the illustrious Gaya. I think Christians have a similar rite
If they did kill it it could feed thier village for a year!
I had the same initial reaction as you guys. But actually, it was captured not as a trophy or as something to just show off. It was captured both to protect it and for it not to do anymore harm to its immediate surrounding. It just killed a couple of domesticated carabaos(water buffalo) within the last several months. Carabaos are used by a lot of people here in rural parts of the philippines for farming and a lot more. Lest they be killed by the locals as a way of summarily resolving the problem, the main branch of the government tasked to protect wildlife opted for it to be trapped, captured and be placed in a sanctuary. They have to capture it in order to protect it from the locals who actually don't know any better 🙂 They are still looking for another one a bit smaller but just as aggressive nonetheless.
well said, darien
Another Beautiful Create Killed!..sigh..........
Do you even read the news stories before you comment? People like you make me sick. There's more to life than perusing headlines...
You really need to read an article before you comment on it.
Oops, my bad, I thought he was dead..
And no they didn't kill another Greek island...spell check?
The trailer is dead.
No, the trailer is non-living. There's a difference!
I will never understand those who skip straight to the comments section before reading an article. It's like tipping your waiter prior to being served.
They Should have killed it just like we kill gators here in Florida!
So, the people of this village decided to remove a creature that had likely harmed no one from its natural habitat and place it in captivity all for the sake of fame and fortune, while likely starting a witch-hunt against an increasingly endangered species of animal. These people are idiots.
Idiot! You want him to kill people first before they capture it? And they have suspected that THAT crocodile was the one responsible for some deaths. Did you even read the article?
Idiot. They are NOT endangered, and these particular crocs have been implicated in the killing of both domestic animimals AND a girl, acc. to the report! What's more important–2 to 3 crocs, or human beings' lives and safety? What idiocy.
No, not at all. READ the article. Reading is FUNamental
There is a missing fisherman.
well i i dont blame some one not for reading BORING but still atleast get wit teh program for pete's sake 😛 and also what ever happend to population control ehy like that gator was hungry so he saw a lil gurl on teh turf thinking oh shizzle she goonaa eat mah babies or hey hey you yeah lil girl get off my lawn >.< she didnt no any better so she got chomped parents need to watch there kids more and the fisherman......well wut ever he tried to fish the croc up and pulled in and chomped..Nom Nom
B.O.B.
the little girl accidentally fell of the boat she was on, crossing the river to go to school. most likely, the croc had bumped the boat.
That photo just reminds me that there's too many people in the world. Nature doesn't stand a chance.
Why don't commit suicide so other can live?
Suicide? That was uncalled for.
Uncalled for? Not at all, just take one for the team.
Humans have existed here for maybe 14,000 years. Compared to crocs which have been here for 200 million years. Yeah you are right, WE have the right to kill anything. I mean it is OUR earth....right? Pffff
Just shoot it and be done with it!
Just think of all the adorable handbags and shoes this beast will make. It is nice something good came out of this.
some people here just make me want to punch some of you guys, because you say the stupidest stuff
Now, Now, you might hurt your hand. Use a baseball bat.
That should feed the village for at least a week
Man, that is almost as big as the Crock Obama is trying to sell us....
Not quite as big as that tumor on your brain.
lol
Jaws, with legs.
It DID kill some people! The news anchor also said this croc is thought to be at least 50 years old...so there's not telling how many people he may have attacked/killed in his lifetime.
Exactly – there's no telling, because we don't know. Maybe this was Ferdnand, the peaceful croc....and all his friends are laughing now!
That thing didn't get to be that big eating plants and small fish. I bet he's had a very healthy diet of humans.
Crocodiles dont go into villages at night and hunt people. They attack and eat whats easy and around them. They've done it for 200 million years, and grew up to 38 ft long. There didnt have any humans to feast on way back then. Humans have only been on this earth for maybe 14,000 years. Im sure they can get to 21 feet without eating one.
Only took 39 posts before somebody pulled the politic chain. Yay.
I'm surprised there have been no Univ of FL comments yet!
Steve Erwin (God rest his sole) would have loved to have seen this beautiful beast (as he would have put it).
He'd been knee deep in the hunt for this "beauty", making sure it was saved. I dont think he could have jumped on this one's back and clamped its jaws shut with his hands....I saw one in Chon Bri ,Thailand back in the late 90's it was so big
I never though I'd see one bigger...I was wrong
All I have to say is wow that is one big croc, and if there is one there is a possibility for others; nice clip here.