Crikey! Dead Crock! (Pics Did Not Copy... So Sad) Off Aol News

[Bruce]

Lolong Dead: World's Largest Crocodile In Captivity Dies In Philippines (PHOTOS)

By JIM GOMEZ 02/10/13 10:40 PM ET EST

 

MANILA, Philippines — A southern Philippine town plans to hold funeral rites for the world's largest saltwater crocodile and then preserve its remains in a museum to keep tourists coming and prevent their community from slipping back into obscurity, the town's mayor said Monday.

The 1-ton crocodile was declared dead Sunday a few hours after flipping over with a bloated stomach in a pond in an eco-tourism park in Bunawan town, which had started to draw tourists, revenue and development because of the immense reptile, Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde said.

"The whole town, in fact the whole province, is mourning," Elorde said from Bunawan in Agusan del Sur province. "My phones kept ringing because people wanted to say how affected they are."

Guinness World Records had proclaimed it the largest saltwater crocodile in captivity last year, measuring the giant at 6.17 meters (20.24 feet). The reptile took the top spot from an Australian crocodile that measured more than 5 meters (17 feet) and weighed nearly a ton.

The crocodile was named Lolong, after a government environmental officer who died from a heart attack after traveling to Bunawan to help capture the beast. The crocodile, estimated to be more than 50 years old, was blamed for a few brutal deaths of villagers before Bunawan folk came to love it.

The giant reptile has come to symbolize the rich bio-diversity of Agusan marsh, where it was captured. The vast complex of swamp forests, shallow lakes, lily-covered ponds and wetlands is home to wild ducks, herons, egrets and threatened species like the Philippine Hawk Eagle.

Wildlife experts were to perform an autopsy as early as Monday to determine the cause of its death, Elorde said.

Bunawan villagers planned to perform a tribal ritual, which involves butchering chicken and pigs as funeral offerings to thank forest spirits for the fame and other blessings the crocodile has brought, Elordie said. A group of Christians would separately offer prayers before the autopsy.

The rites would be held at the eco-tourism park, where the reptile had emerged as a star attraction, drawing foreign tourists, scientists and wildlife reporting outfits like the National Geographic to Bunawan, a far-flung town of 37,000 people about 515 miles (830 kilometers) southeast of Manila.

The crocodile's capture in September 2011 sparked celebrations in Bunawan, but it also raised concerns that more giant crocodiles might lurk in a marshland and creek where villagers fish. The crocodile was captured with steel cable traps during a hunt prompted by the death of a child in 2009 and the later disappearance of a fisherman. Water buffalos have also been attacked by crocodiles in the area.

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

Philippine officials had planned to construct a road to the park to accommodate the growing number of tourists, Elorde said, adding that he planned to have the crocodile preserved and placed in a museum so Bunawan villagers and tourists could still marvel at it.

"I'd like them to see the crocodile that broke a world record and put our town on the map," he said.
 

[i am bob]

Just a reminder to all you newbies out there in the Land of Paradise...  Be very careful before you drink the water!

 

:whistling:

 

Seriously, it may sound silly to many but having this croc at their zoo was helping their local economy greatly!  I'm glad that they are still able to do something to help keep the local economy building.

[Savsko]

I remember the TV coverage of this monster's capture. It is indeed a very sad day for all concerned. I hope they can find a skilled taxidermist to preserve the croc. A recent visit to the Manila Zoo made me smile when I came upon two very tired stuffed specimens - a lion and a cheetah - partly hairless and bedraggled.

 

[Bruce]

I remember the TV coverage of this monster's capture. It is indeed a very sad day for all concerned. I hope they can find a skilled taxidermist to preserve the croc. A recent visit to the Manila Zoo made me smile when I came upon two very tired stuffed specimens - a lion and a cheetah - partly hairless and bedraggled.

 

Skilled? :hystery: Is that word even translatable into Tagalog? In the US, fresh road kill is used as practice bodies for taxidermy students. But in Phils fresh road kill is called double dead meat and can be found at your local market! Hide tanning facilities? Refrigeration? Body molds? All lacking in that part of Phils.

 

If they were located close to Manila or a yacht club / sport fishing area, a salt water taxidermist might be around who could at least know how to access the proper people for the job.

[Adventurer]

watch where you swim there, I hear there are huge crocs all over the islands.

[Bruce]

watch where you swim there, I hear there are huge crocs all over the islands.

No way. Rather odd finding in most of the Philippines. As you are from Oz... here in the US we hear of beach swimmers and river swimmers being snatched by a crock several times a year, Down Under. So if we hear that in the US, I would think that you, as local news would hear about crock sightings much more frequently.  

 

I am in Florida and here we have aligators which are some what smaller and 'slightly' better tempered. I rarely see an aligator over 6 feet. Most are rapidly captured and released out in the park areas. We do have a few salt water crocks close by but they are 'protected' by federal law and are left alone. Less than a dozen or so.  

 

Out on Samar, I have never heard about any crocks at all and very few snakes.

[brock]

A couple of years ago in the Philippines,, A 12 year old girl was killed by a croc as she went across a lake to get to school.

[lyno 47]

Bruce we here in oz have all maner of animals that will have a go at you from crocs, sharks ,snakes , spiders ,even roo"s if you happen to corner them.Coz we grew up with them sometimes you just become a bit forgetfull that they are around and don't take the care you should, thats when you get  attacked . cheers

[Bruce]

Bruce we here in oz have all maner of animals that will have a go at you from crocs, sharks ,snakes , spiders ,even roo"s if you happen to corner them.Coz we grew up with them sometimes you just become a bit forgetfull that they are around and don't take the care you should, thats when you get  attacked . cheers

 

But with all the women named Sheila, how do you tell them apart! :th_hu: I supppose it is easy to buy a birthday cake.... Happy Birthday Sheila!

 

Like going to a fancy restaurant in Saudi Arabia and when asked to leave your name at the hostess station for seating.... and then she she calls out Mohamad! All the men start fighting because they thought she was talking to them! :hystery: