A crocodile blamed for deadly attacks in the southern Philippines has been confirmed as the biggest in captivity.
The saltwater crocodile, named Lolong, was caught last September in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur province. It measures 6.17 metres (20.24 ft) and weighs more than a ton, said a Guinness World Records spokeswoman, Anne-Lise Rouse. The reptile took the top spot from an Australian crocodile named Cassius, which measured 5.48 metres.
The hunt for Lolong began after a girl was killed and a fisherman went missing, both cases claiming Lolong as the main suspect.
The animal has become the star attraction of a new ecotourism park and research centre in the outskirts of Bunawan and has drawn thousands of tourists since news of its capture spread. Elorde said the town had made 3m pesos (₱3,000,597 (£46,000)) from entrance fees, most of which was being used to feed and care for the crocodile and for park maintenance.
Lolong was captured with steel cable traps during a three-week hunt, after a child was killed in 2009 and a fisherman went missing. Water buffalos have also been attacked by crocodiles in the area, officials said.
About 100 people led by Elorde pulled the crocodile from a creek using a rope and then hoisted it by crane on to a truck. It was named after a government official who died from a heart attack after travelling to Bunawan to help capture the animal, Elorde said.
He claimed to have seen a larger crocodile escape where Lolong was captured, and villagers remain wary of fishing in Bunawan at night. He said he has a new team of hunters and would seek government permission to start looking for the reptile.
The environment and natural resources secretary, Ramon Paje, welcomed the Guinness announcement and the growing attention being given to the crocodile, saying it would help promote the biodiversity of the area and the need to protect it.
