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A group of villagers in the Philippines have captured
a gigantic 21-foot-long, 2,370-pound monster crocodile, thought to be
the largest creature of its kind now in captivity.
The villagers of the marshy province of Bunawan, 515 miles southeast of
the capital Manila, have attempted to capture the nuisance crocodile for
several years.
The crocodile killed a water buffalo in an attack witnessed by villagers
last month and was also suspected of killing a small child and a
fisherman who went missing in July.
"We were nervous but it's our duty to deal with a threat to the
villagers," Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde told The Associated Press by
telephone. "When I finally stood before it, I couldn't believe my eyes."
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Project director Ronald Nuer of the Bunawan Municipal Council told GMA
News that it took 21 nights to snare the giant croc, which freed itself
from the restraining ropes twice before it was eventually subdued.
Dozens of men worked to bait the beast, using an eight millimeter metal
cable to snare it.
It took about 100 people to drag the croc out of the creek where it was
caught. It was then brought to a clearing, where a crane hoisted it onto
a truck, The Associated Press reported.
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The crocodile was placed under the care of the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources in Agusan del Sur and has been secured inside a
fenced-in area, where the town plans to create an ecotourism park.
The Guinness Book of World Records reports that the largest crocodile in
captivity is 17-feet-long "Cassius" of Australia. If the facts are
verified, the new Filipino crocodile could take the record by a long
shot.
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