Agusan villagers want to search for crocodile bigger than 'Lolong'

BUNAWAN, Agusan del Sur, Philippines – Residents here appealed to local officials to start the search for another giant crocodile believed to be bigger than “Lolong,” which was recently certified by Guinness Records as the world’s biggest crocodile in captivity.

Residents in Barangay Nueva Era have claimed that another giant crocodile devoured a carabao last April 16. Lolong was captured on Sept. 3, 2011.

The barangay council of Nueva Era headed by chairman Teofanies Adlawan had passed two resolutions on Dec. 27, 2011 and April 23, 2012 asking local officials to fast-track the hunting operation to capture the crocodile that they claimed is longer than Lolong.

Residents along the creeks and riverbanks at the Agusan Marsh are worried that the giant crocodile might victimize villagers in the future.

“Sirs and Madam at the Barangay Council and Bunawan officials, we are appealing that an urgent hunt, rescue or whatever must be done soon so as to spare people, domesticated animals and livestock lives or maybe spare the lives of these reptiles you claimed belonged to protected species. We hoped that the hunt will be initiated the soonest or don’t blame the people if they will act drastically against these crocodiles that endanger people’s lives too,” the residents said in three letters dated Sept. 19, Dec. 22, both in 2011, and March 14, 2012.

The villagers have also sent a letter of appeal to the Manila office of Director Theresa Mundita Lim of the environment department’s Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB).

Lim sent a letter to Bunawan Mayor Edwin “Cox” Elorde last July 3 that a recent survey conducted by field workers in Agusan Marsh, creeks, and rivers showed that no large crocodiles were spotted in the areas the residents have identified as danger zones.

Bunawan officials said that field workers of the group Crocudylus Porosus Philippines Inc. or (CPPI) that was commissioned by PAWB stayed only for a week at the Agusan Marsh, which is not enough to conduct the survey in the whole area.

“We scoured Agusan Marsh, creeks and rivers for months before we captured Lolong. The water areas of Agusan Marsh where crocodiles possibly roamed around by now are 55,000 hectares. How can these CPPI people survey these areas for only one week or even less?” Elorde added.

Local officials believed that another crocodile larger than Lolong could still be roaming in the Agusan Marsh.

Elorde had announced that Guinness World Records had certified Lolong as the world’s biggest crocodile that measures 6.17 meters or 20.24 feet and weighs 1,075 kilos.