Crocodile Lolong to undergo necropsy to determine cause of death

The world's largest crocodile in captivity, Lolong, who died Sunday evening, is set to undergo necropsy to determine the cause of its death. In an interview with GMA News' Sandra Aguinaldo on News To Go, veterinarian Dr. Alex Collantes of the Davao Crocodile Park said necropsy would be done by cutting open Lolong and evaluating its digestive system and other vital organs to determine any abnormalities. "Usually it would take, sa ganitong buwaya, hindi ito bababa ng isang oras," he said when asked on how long the process will take. Though the cause of death has yet to be determined, Collantes, who traveled to Bunawan town in Agusan del Sur from Davao City on Sunday to check on Lolong at the request of its caretakers, said the crocodile had flipped over with a bloated stomach hours before its death at 8:12 p.m. Sunday. "Isa iyon sa in-exhibit niyang sintomas bago siya namatay," he said. Loss of appetite Collantes admitted that on his last visit to Lolong last January 31, he noticed something different in its eating habit and temperature. "In terms of physical, wala kang mapapansin," he said. "Though isa sa mga napapansing sigurado ay hindi na siya gaano kumakain then ang temperatura niya mababa talaga." He said the change of tempature in their area after Typhoon Pablo hit the region last December has affected Lolong. "Totoo pong nagkaroon o mayroong malaking pagbabago sa temperatura dito sa pinaglagyan ng buwaya," Collantes said. "Since malayo-layo sa comfort zone ng buwaya, isa pa iyon sa tinitignan though hindi pa natin iyon ma-finalize." Collantes also said that crocodiles as large as Lolong could go for months without eating. "Ang buwaya, hindi naman siya kumakain, nakaka-survive siya kahit ilang buwang walang kain," he said. 'Captive animals die younger' Reacting to Lolong's death, animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said captive animals die younger than their counterparts in the wild. "Lolong suffered and died because people wanted to make money off his captivity," PETA said in a statement. "Crocodiles are hardwired to roam freely, seek out mates, and hunt for food. These genetic imperatives are compelling, and the way that they are fulfilled in the wild cannot be replicated in captivity," it added. PETA further said that it is hoping "that this incident will motivate the government to move away from capturing animals from the wild in order to keep them locked in cages and specifically look at the case of Mali, who has already been accepted into a sanctuary where her life expectancy and happiness can be increased but has yet to be allowed to move," it added. PETA has been fighting for the release of Manila Zoo's lone elephant, Mali, but the zoo's officials remain firm against sending the elephant to a sanctuary abroad. Australian croc to regain back title? Meanwhile, an Australian news site on Monday (Manila time) claimed that following Lolong's death Sunday evening, an Australian crocodile called Cassius has reclaimed the recognition as the world's largest crocodile in captivity. Measuring 17.32 feet, the Australian crocodile reigned the title before the Philippine rival emerged in September 2011, according to a report on Cairns.com.au. Lolong was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest crocodile in captivity. However, an 18-feet-long crocodile called Pangil has reportedly replaced Lolong as the country's largest crocodile in captivity. Pangil can be seen up close at the Davao Crocodile Park in Davao City. — KBK, GMA News