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Giant crocodile picture: saltwater crocodile Lolong captured in the Philippines

Lolong was captured in the Philippines in September 2011.

Photograph from European Pressphoto Agency

Christine Dell'Amore

National Geographic News

Published February 11, 2013

Lolong is the largest crocodile in captivity no longer.

The 20.24-foot-long (6.17-meter-long) saltwater crocodile died recently at his home in the Bunawan Eco-Park and Research Centre in the Philippines' Bunawan township (map), according to news reports.

In July, Guinness World Records named the behemoth, which was captured alive in September 2011, the largest crocodile in captivity. (See pictures of Lolong's capture.)

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

The cause of death is unknown, although a post-mortem may reveal more details, CNN reported.

Biggest Crocodile Boosted Conservation

The giant reptile's death is a loss to crocodile conservation in the country, Philippines' Environment Secretary Ramon Pajeto told CNN affiliate ABS-CBN News.

Indeed, the 2,370-pound (1,075-kilogram) Lolong may have inspired people in the Philippines to "perhaps respect crocodiles a little bit more,"Adam Britton, senior partner of the Australia-based crocodilian research and consulting group Big Gecko, wrote on his blog in June 2012. (See pictures of alligators and crocodiles.)

For instance, in 2011 Philippine Senate 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.

Lolong will still loom large even after death, however—Paje told ABS-CNN that the reptile will be stuffed and mounted.

14 comments
waine simpson
waine simpson

The reason they caught Lolong was because he was killing people, including a young girl on her way home from school.   That croc is just lucky they chose to catch him and "cruelly" impression him.   Forgive me, but anything that literally bites a little girl's head off should be killed... animal or human.    I love animals, but protecting and avenging innocent human life always comes first. 

Taty Anna
Taty Anna like.author.displayName 1 Like

wow check out the pic that croc looks miserable that is cruel that croc belongs in the wild not captured STOP ANIMAL CRUELITY

michael k.
michael k.

@Taty Anna Animal Cruelty, what a retard..we never relocate animals or take them in when they cant go back into the wild do we? Lets put you in Lolongs mouth...since he's unhappy and miserable. We should sacrifice you to The Great Lolong..It will please the Great Lolong and put you out of your misery at the same time.

Gerard Vincent Casanova
Gerard Vincent Casanova like.author.displayName 1 Like

Lolong should have lived a lot longer. They (whoever is responsible) should have invested in a much larger space for Lolong. So large, that the croc will not even know that he is in captivity.

Wassim Bazzi
Wassim Bazzi like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

Animals that big should never be in captivity, It got that big being free. 

Hans Parel
Hans Parel

how old was the croc?

Missy C.
Missy C.

@Hans Parel He was estimated to be 50 years old, but no one really knows for sure. He was captured in 2011 and died 2/10/13

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