Lolong is the largest crocodile in captivity. A male Indo-Pacific or Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), that weighs 2,370 pounds (1,075 kilograms) and a length of 20 feet 3 inches (6.17 meters), making him one of the largest crocodiles ever measured from snout-to-tail.[1][2][3] In captivity, it surpassed the length of the eighteen-foot record-holder Cassius of Australia.
In November of 2011, Australian crocodile expert Dr. Adam Britton of National Geographic sedated and measured Lolong in his enclosure. Lolong is confirmed as the world's longest crocodile ever caught in captivity, with a astonishing length of 20 feet and 3 inches.[1] His confirmation is good enough for entry into the Guinness Book of World Records but the announcement is to be published in March of 2012.
Officials of the town of Bunawan where the crocodile was captured said that experts from the National Geographic Channel found out that Lolong breaks the record of the previous record-holder: a male saltwater crocodile named "Cassius" kept in the crocodile park of MarineLand Melanesia in Australia's Northern Territory. Cassius is 17 feet and 11.75 inches (5.48 meters) long and weighs less than 1,000 kilogram.[4][5]
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Lolong was caught in a Bunawan creek in the province of Agusan del Sur in the Philippines on September 3, 2011. It is captured with the help of joint cooperation of the local government unit, residents and crocodile hunters of Palawan. The area is part of the Agusan Marsh. [6] He is estimated to be at least 50 years old.[7] It took three weeks to hunt down the giant crocodile and 100 people to take it out of the water.[7] It broke twice from restraining ropes before it was properly secured and it became extremely aggressive several times.[8]
Lolong is suspected of eating a farmer who gone missing in the town of Bunawan, the killing of a 12-year-old girl few years ago and primary suspect in the disappearance of water buffaloes in the localities.[9] But in the vomit findings after its capture, no human remains prevailed but remnants of water buffaloes that reported missing before its capture. Experts say the vast Agusan Marsh's tourism potential needs intensive study to avoid fatal human-crocodile encounters. The capture of Lolong is a good advantage in protecting it for survival, against danger it posed to the humans, an attraction and income for the locality, and an opportunity for scientific study.
The non-governmental organization (NGO) activist Animal Kingdom Foundation Inc. with a cooperation of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has urged the local government of Bunawan to return Lolong in the creek of barangay Nueva Era, where the giant reptile was captured. But Bunawan mayor Edwin “Cox” Elorde and residents of the barangay opposed the proposal arguing its threat and posed danger for those living in the vicinity of the creek. Until now its a ongoing debate.
The crocodile is named after Ernesto "Lolong" Goloran Cañete, one of the veteran crocodile hunters from the Palawan Crocodile and Wildlife Reservation Center who led the hunt.[10] After weeks of stalking, the hunt for Lolong took its toll on Cañete's health. He died of a heart attack few days before the crocodile was captured, a memorable reminder for his courage and perseverance.
Bunawan has made the giant beast the centerpiece of an ecotourism park for species found in the marshlands near the township. Mayor Elorde said, “We will take care of this crocodile because this will boost our tourism and we know it can help in terms of town’s income and jobs to our village communities.”
Lolong is now kept in an enclosure in the Bunawan Ecopark and Wildlife Reservation Center in Barangay Consuelo located 8 km out of town. People from nearby towns are now trooping to Lolong’s eco-park after the Palawan Wildlife and Conservation Center finally gave a go signal to open it to the public on September 17. The Bunawan Municipal Council recently passed an ordinance regulating and imposing fees on gate entrance, parking and other fees at the eco-park where the celebrity giant crocodile now resides in captivity.
Although the eco-park has a twenty-peso entrance fee for adults and less for the children, these proceeds will be used for Lolong’s food and the maintenance of the eco-park itself.[11] The Bunawan Eco-Park is also incurring expenses to maintain electricity, maintenance and other incidental expenses like installation of CCTV cameras. According to Bunawan town Mayor Edwin Elorde, as of October 26th, 2011, the celebrity crocodile has already earned nearly half million pesos in donations, entrance fees, and parking fees, with a daily income of about P10,000 that month.[12]
Bunawan Media Affairs Coordinator Welinda Asis-Elorde, said the local government unit, through a private-public-partnership project, will be embarking on a P200-million site development project for the Bunawan Eco-Park and Research Center.
“You have more than 5,000 crocodiles some of them are giants bigger even than Lolong at Agusan Marsh here in Bunawan therefore we need a longer plan for more visitors to come and visit this homeland of the giants. We are embarking on this P200-million project now and for future generations”, she said.
Bunawan Municipal Planning & Development Officer Robert Floyd Salise, told PNA in an interview that the P200-million Bunawan Eco-Park and Research Center Project will include the construction of cottages, lodging houses or inns, swimming pools, an amphitheatre, laboratory and research center, souvenir shops, pavilion and other amenities.[12]
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