Largest crocodile in captivity dies at age 50

MANILA, Philippines - The Associated Press

The crocodile was the world’s largest saltwater crocodile in captivity. AP photo

A remote southern Philippine town has gone into mourning over the death of the world’s largest saltwater crocodile in captivity, even though it was blamed for the deaths of several people.

Bunawan town plans to preserve the remains of the one-ton crocodile, named Lolong, in a museum to keep tourists coming and stop the community from slipping back into obscurity, the mayor said Monday.

Lolong was declared dead Feb. 10 after being found floating on its back with a bloated stomach in a pond in an ecotourism park 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. “My phones kept ringing because people wanted to say how affected they are.”

Wildlife experts will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death, he said.

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

The crocodile was estimated at more than 50 years old.