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.
Croc's and gator's aren't searching for a meal when they go into developed areas, they are searching for the same pools that their ancestors have been using for millenia as a place to breed, you freaking dummies.
glad he was kept alive....He was doing what crocs do, probably very hungry and very scared...Can't help but thinking Steve Irwin would have loved this huge croc....what a beauty..LOL
If there is one out there, there should be also be others.
To everyone defending the croc: Do you not realize that this creature killed someone? Not only that, but it was chipping away at their livestock. It was unavoidable; they captured the croc so they could survive.
Dick in a box! LMAO!
What a croc(k).
HUG that BABY! He's just trying to get along in this cruel world!
Ahhh... I remember back in the day... I had the gator shoes with matching belt and wallet... Crocodiles.... I don't care for no stinking crocodiles... Shoot them, until they learn to defend themselves from man... they aren't worthy of life... "BIG GAME HUNTERS RULE!!!
Your ignorance is truly sad and also dangerous. You obviously know nothing about these incrdible creatures which command our respect. You're the one not worthy of life.
@buttery_comp
I would love to wear your skin someday.
you, sir, are an absolute idiot.
Buttery I hope animals hunt you someday, I will LMAO
I agree 100%. I live in florida and we kill gators all the time. If it crawls towards me I can shoot it in self defense.
The trick is to make sure it comes at me(wink, wink)!
Crocodiles have been on this planet longer than humans have been. They are one of the last existing species that date back to prehistoric ages. I believe that gives them the right to exist... BTW, most hunters are also conservationists and preservationists. They understand that without it there would be nothing left to hunt, because "people" like you would exhaust the resources.
Monster is also a drink. Quit pontificating. It makes you look dim.
as an American who is currently studying herpetology and is a huge fan of all the scaley animals out there, this animal is an amazing find and honestly should be protected. this animal is more then likely at least 40-50 years old and so rare it should not be destroyed, it is bad enough that in Florida, in the actual everglades 100's of American alligators are destroyed because humans want to feed them and because of that they accustom people to food, so fish and game has to take the animal and destroy it. this is a real problem that many ignorant people don't understand the very fragile balanced ecology of specific places remove one animal from existence and you affect at least 20 others may be small and possible not noticeable to people, but give it 10 years and uh oh because one predator was removed now we are over run with one species *nutria* for example a large 9 lbs rat could become a rampant species.
How about before you ignorant fearful people go on spouting ignorant words like "kill em all" go educate yourselves, maybe your dog/ cat wouldn't be eaten if you didn't live in an area that was its home or built water canals in your backyards because its pretty, if you can't coexist please go live in the big city were they have already destroyed any native species which once existed.
you never know what you do or how bad you destroy something until its gone and you can never undo the damage.
Tick tock, tick tock– Find my hand inside that croc! Peter Pan, your time has come–get my sword and fetch the rum!
Let it go
A crocodile that large and old deserves to be left in peace to live out his years.
Soooooo.....they take Cialis? O.o
Thanks for the knowledge on ED.
Interesting.
So called "Humanity" can really suck sometimes.
When a crocodile kills a fisherman the activists say that is just in the crocodile's nature, but when the fishermen catch the crocodile then the activists go nuts. Humans are also animals and protecting our family is just part of our nature. I think I will fly to the Philippines just to see it in the zoo because that is MY nature!