.: Lolong - The world’s largest crocodile

Title*:	Lolong - The world's largest crocodile
Article*:	The world's largest crocodile is a saltwater crocodile. It was given the name of "Lolong" in the Philippines after one of the crocodile hunters who was Ernesto GoloranCanete, also called Lolong.Ernesto was the one who led the group of veteran crocodile hunters in search of the giant reptile. But weeks after hunting Lolong, Ernesto's health deteriorated. A heart attack took his life a few days before the crocodile was caught. On February 10, 2013 though, the said crocodile has died with an estimated age of around 50. Lolong is one of the largest and longest crocodile in the world. It was National Geographic's Dr. Adam Britton who measured Lolong. Crocodile hunters who collaborated with residents have captured Lolong on September 3, 2011 in Agusandel Sur on a creek. The hunters were also assisted in their operations by the local government of the province. The joint cooperation took three weeks to accomplish. When Lolong got captured the team needed the help of about one hundred people to carry and pull the crocodile to land. Lolong has been a primary suspect to the disappearance and deaths of some residents in Bunawan. It was also suspected to be the predator which preyed on the water buffaloes of the Bunawan creek. When Lolong was captured the contents of its stomach were examined. Water buffalo remnants were found but there were no signs of it having eaten humans. There have been debates on whether to free the crocodile or keep it captive between the local government and organizations such as the Animal Kingdom Foundation Inc. But Mayor Edwin Elorde with the support of Bunawan's residents resolved the matter by stating the danger and threat to their lives if the crocodile was to be set free. 6 months after the visitation of Australian Dr. Britton who was a crocodile expert as well as a zoologist the Giant Crocodile Lolong was certified by the Guinness World Records as the largest crocodile in the world to be held in captivity. The size reached up to twenty feet. Lolong has surpassed the record of Australia's largest crocodile called "Cassius", a saltwater crocodile with a length of 5.84 m and was held in MarineLand Melanesia at Queensland. Lolong's death was announced in the evening of Feb 10, 2013. The result of the necropsy showed that the reptile suffered and died of cardiac arrest and pneumonia. Both was made worse by stress and an infection caused by fungus. Some analysts claim that Lolong died because of the stress it was going through in the process of its captivity. They blame the way it was treated was the reason for the malfunctioning of its vital organs. For example tourists would pay for the pond where Lolong was held to be emptied so that its whole body would be exposed. One analyst say that it was this practice that crushed the crocodile's organs. Through taxidermy, Lolong's body was preserved. Unfortunately, after Lolong's death the Philippines has lost its throne in the World Records as having the largest crocodile in captivity. The crown now belongs again to Australia's Cassius.
Category*:	Local News
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