Villagers and veteran hunters capture a one-ton 21-foot saltwater crocodile which will become the star of a planned ecotourism park in the Philippines. It is one of the largest to be captured alive in recent years.
A giant crocodile weighing 1075 kilograms has been captured in the Philippines.
The 6.4-metre-long creature was caught by residents and crocodile farm staff along a creek in Bunawan late Saturday in southern Philippines.
Mayor Cox Elorde of Bunawan Township, Agusan del Sur Province, said on Monday dozens of villagers and experts ensnared the male crocodile along a creek in his township after a three-week hunt.
"We were nervous but it's our duty to deal with a threat to the villagers," Mr Elorde told The Associated Press by telephone. "When I finally stood before it, I couldn't believe my eyes."
About 90 men were needed to pull the 1075-kilogram fresh water crocodile from the river, the Sun Star newspaper reported.
It was one of the largest crocodiles to be captured alive in the Philippines in recent years.
Mr Elorde hoped the crocodile would become the centre of attraction at a planned ecotourism park.
It will be the biggest star of the park," he said, adding that he would be happy to turn the crocodile "from a threat into an asset".
Last July another giant crocodile believed to have killed a fisherman in the swamp areas of Palawan in southern Philippines was captured alive near the area where the body parts of the missing fisherman were recovered.
The 13-foot crocodile weighing 770 pounds had to be tied and blindfolded and brought to a place where it will be examined to find out if it was indeed the one that killed the fisherman.
Alex Marcaida, spokesman for the environment council in Palawan said the giant crocodile was captured using a net in the Rio Tuba River near the place where the fisherman's body parts were found.
The crocodile will be induced to vomit to find out if the stomach contains human tissues or signs that would link the crocodile to the killing of the fisherman.
Marcaida said at least three people have been killed in Palawan by crocodiles that thrive in the mangrove areas of the province.
It is possible the crocodile’s habitat may have been disturbed by people who set up makeshift houses in the mangrove areas where the crocodile lives.
Crocodile attacks on people have been reported in some parts of the country but more incidents were noted in the mangrove forest of Palawan.
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