Philippine crocodile named largest in captivity

London, July 2 (ANI): Guinness World Records has declared a huge crocodile, blamed for the death of two people in the southern Philippines, as the largest in captivity in the world.

According to a statement made by Guinness spokeswoman Anne-Lise Rouse, the saltwater crocodile named Lolong, captured last September in Bunawan town in Agusan del Sur province, measures 20.24 feet and weighs more than a ton.

The crocodile was captured with steel cable traps during a three-week hunt after a child was killed in 2009 and a fisherman went missing.

The reptile dethroned an Australian crocodile, which measured more than 17 feet (5 meters) and weighed nearly a ton, to take the top spot.

Mayor of Bunawan Edwin Cox Elorde said that the news sparked celebrations in his farming town of 37,000 but also fostered concerns that more giant crocodiles might be lurking in a nearby marshland and creek where villagers fish.

"There were mixed feelings," the Telegraph quoted Elorde as saying.

"We're really proud because it proves the rich biodiversity of our place but at the same time, there are fears that Lolong may not be alone," he said.

Lolong has become the star attraction of a new ecotourism park and research centre in the outskirts of Bunawan and has drawn thousands of tourists ever since the news of its capture spread.

Elorde revealed that his town had earned 3 million pesos from the modest entrance fees at the park, with most of the money being used to feed and care for the crocodile and for park maintenance.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje welcomed the Guinness announcement and the growing attention being given to the crocodile, saying it would help people realise the biodiversity of their surroundings and the need to protect it.

About 100 people led by Elorde had managed to pull the crocodile from a creek using a rope and then hoisted it by crane onto a truck.

It was named after a government environmental officer who died from a heart attack after travelling to Bunawan to help capture the beast, Elorde said.

Elorde said that he saw a bigger crocodile escape when Lolong was captured and villagers remain wary of fishing there at night. (ANI)