National Geographic Daily News
Giant crocodile picture - Philippine mayor "hugging" a giant saltwater crocodile, Lolong

Edwin Cox Elorde, mayor of Bunawan township, Philippines, with Lolong in September.

Photograph from AP

Christine Dell'Amore

National Geographic News

Published July 2, 2012

Lolong has hit the big timeat 20.24 feet (6.17 meters) long, the saltwater crocodile is officially the largest in captivity, the Guinness World Records announced recently.

Suspected of attacking several people and killing two, the giant reptile was captured alive in the Philippines' Bunawan township (map) last September. (See pictures of Lolong's capture.)

The Guinness listing is based on data by experts including crocodile zoologist Adam Britton, who measured the beast in his home, the new Bunawan Eco-Park and Research Centre. (Read more about Lolong's Guinness World Record listing.)

 

picture: Lolong, largest crocodile in captivity, per Guinness

 

Initially wary of claims of record-breaking size, Britton blogged his congratulations to Lolong "for amazing the skeptic in me."

"I didn't expect to ever see a crocodile greater than 20 feet long in my lifetime, not an experience I will forget easily," wrote Britton, senior partner of the Australia-based crocodilian research and consulting group Big Gecko. (See pictures of alligators and crocodiles.)

The previous captive record-holder was a 17.97-foot-long (5.48-meter-long) Australian-caught saltwater crocodile.

What's more, Britton noted, the 2,370-pound (1,075-kilogram) Lolong may have a sizable impact on crocodile conservation in the Philippines.

For instance, the Philippine Senate recently introduced a resolution to strengthen laws protecting the saltwater crocodile and the Philippine crocodile, a species deemed critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

As Britton wrote on his blog, "this is excellent progress."

0 comments

Trending News

  • Week in Space - Picture of the Pavlof volcano, as seen from space, emitting a plume of ash

    Week's Best Space Pictures

    The Ring Nebula shines, a volcano erupts, and Germans see the bat signal in this week's best new space pictures.

  • In this Feb. 6, 2011 photo made available Feb. 8, and provided by the Fire & Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia, Gosnell firefighters battles a wildfire at the rear of a house in the Perth, Australia, suburb of Roleystone. Police said at least 68 homes were lost in the blaze, believed to have been started by sparks from an angle grinder. (AP Photo/FESA, Evan Collis) EDITORIAL USE ONLY

    Australia as Climate Predictor

    As extreme weather seems to accelerate globally, scientists believe events Down Under can help explain what to look for-and guard against.

  • Cicadas on skewers in Beijing, China.

    How to Eat Cicadas

    Cicadas bugging you? See our recipe ideas for the low-fat critters, including the new candied cicada cocktail.

Celebrating 125 Years

Connect With Nat Geo

Shop National Geographic

    SHOP NOW »