The world's largest saltwater crocodile dies

The world's largest saltwater crocodile in captivity died in a city in southern Philippines yesterday.

A zoo worker inserted ice water around the body of the Lolong crocodile on February 10 before the forensic specialist slaughtered it to determine the cause of death. (Photo: AP).

Lolong, the name of the crocodile more than 50 years old, died after it was found to have flipped its face on the pond surface in an ecological park in Bunawan City, Agusan del Sur province in southern Philippines on February 10. Lolong's stomach bulged before it floated to the surface of the pond, Guardian reported.

Edwin Cox Elorde, mayor of Bunawan, announced that officials would hold a Lolong funeral ceremony. Then they will keep its body in a museum so people and visitors can admire.

" People in Bunawan city and Agusan del Sur province are mourning Lolong. My phone rings constantly because people call to share their feelings about the death of the crocodile, " said Elorde.

Guinness World Records recognizes Lolong as the world's largest saltwater crocodile in captivity last year.Its body length is 6.17m, while its weight is about a ton . It used to kill some people before being caught in the Agusan swamp. An environmental official died of a heart attack after arriving in Bunawan to support the capture of the crocodile. So people call it Lolong, the surname of the ill-fated environmental official, to remember him.

After arriving at the ecological park in Bunawan city, the crocodile became the "star" in the park. Thousands of scientists and foreign tourists, photojournalists went to Bunawan to see Lolong.