Manobos offer ritual to Lolong the crocodile

Manobo tribesmen in Mindanao on Tuesday performed a ritual offering for Lolong, the record holder of world's largest crocodile in captivity before its death Sunday night. According to Steve Dailisan's report on “News To Go” on Wednesday, the Manobo tribe in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, staged a ritual to thank nature for giving them Lolong, which helped boost the town's eco-tourism. During the four-hour ritual, the Manobos lit candles and made an offering of live pig, chicken, alcohol, biscuit and candies, while chanting their prayers as they offered the crocodile back to nature. The report also said the Manobos promised to conduct the ritual when Lolong was still alive and weak to prolong its life, and that they carried on with the sacred activity despite Lolong's death. Taxidermy Lolong's remains are set to undergo another exam after the necropsy failed to determine the cause of its death. In an earlier interview with GMA News Online, Dr. Steven Toledo of the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (PWRCC) said the findings from the necropsy were inconclusive and a histopathologic examination — or the microscopic examination of tissue in order to study the manifestations of disease — is needed to determine any abnormalities Lolong's tissues. According to the report, tissue samples from Lolong will be brought to the UP Los Baños laboratory for the examination. Meanwhile, to preserve the memory of world's largest crocodile in captivity, Lolong's skin will undergo taxidermy, or the stuffing and mounting of the skin of animals, the “News To Go” report said. The report said about 250 kilos of salt will be used to preserve Lolong's skin. On the other hand, the bones will be preserved by putting them in a box and burying it underground so that they will decompose naturally and meat parts could be separated. Australian croc gains back recognition After confirming the death of Lolong, the Guinness World Records has "returned" the title of the largest crocodile in captivity to Cassius, an Australian saltwater crocodile.   Cassius was the record holder in that category before it was displaced by Lolong in 2012. — Amanda Fernandez/KBK, GMA News