Autopsy carried out on giant Philippines crocodile
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Remains of the 6.17m saltwater crocodile "Lolong" is covered with ice at a conservation park at Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, in southern Philippines on Feb 11, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A worker places blocks of ice around "Lolong", the world's largest saltwater crocodile in captivity according to the Guinness World Records, as they wait for its autopsy on Monday Feb 11, 2013, at Bunawan township, Agusan Del Sur province in southern Philippines. -- PHOTO: AP
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A worker touches "Lolong", the world's largest saltwater crocodile in captivity, according to the Guinness World Records, after putting blocks of ice as they wait for its autopsy on Monday Feb 11, 2013, at Bunawan township, Agusan Del Sur province in southern Philippines. -- PHOTO: AP
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A worker puts ice blocks at the remains of the 6.17m long saltwater crocodile named "Lolong" on Feb 11, 2013, in the town of Bunawan, Agusan del Sur province on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. -- PHOTO: AFP
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In this photo taken on Sept 4, 2011, residents watch as Mayor Cox Elorde of Bunawan township, Agusan del Sur province, pretends to measure a huge crocodile, later named "Lolong", after its capture by residents and staff of a crocodile farm along a creek in Bunawan in southern Philippines. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this photo taken on Sept 6, 2011, "Lolong", the world's largest saltwater crocodile in captivity according to the Guinness World Records, rests in his pen, two days after being captured by residents and staff of a crocodile farm along a creek in Bunawan township, Agusan Del Sur province in southern Philippines. -- PHOTO: AP
Remains of the 6.17m saltwater crocodile "Lolong" is covered with ice at a conservation park at Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, in southern Philippines on Feb 11, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A worker places blocks of ice around "Lolong", the world's largest saltwater crocodile in captivity according to the Guinness World Records, as they wait for its autopsy on Monday Feb 11, 2013, at Bunawan township, Agusan Del Sur province in southern Philippines. -- PHOTO: AP
A worker touches "Lolong", the world's largest saltwater crocodile in captivity, according to the Guinness World Records, after putting blocks of ice as they wait for its autopsy on Monday Feb 11, 2013, at Bunawan township, Agusan Del Sur province in southern Philippines. -- PHOTO: AP
A worker puts ice blocks at the remains of the 6.17m long saltwater crocodile named "Lolong" on Feb 11, 2013, in the town of Bunawan, Agusan del Sur province on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. -- PHOTO: AFP
In this photo taken on Sept 4, 2011, residents watch as Mayor Cox Elorde of Bunawan township, Agusan del Sur province, pretends to measure a huge crocodile, later named "Lolong", after its capture by residents and staff of a crocodile farm along a creek in Bunawan in southern Philippines. -- PHOTO: AP
In this photo taken on Sept 6, 2011, "Lolong", the world's largest saltwater crocodile in captivity according to the Guinness World Records, rests in his pen, two days after being captured by residents and staff of a crocodile farm along a creek in Bunawan township, Agusan Del Sur province in southern Philippines. -- PHOTO: AP
MANILA (AFP) - Philippine veterinarians conducted an autopsy onTuesday on the world's largest saltwater crocodile ever caught, amid concerns it died of mistreatment in a small pen where it was on show for tourists.
"Lolong", who measured 6.17 metres, died from a mystery illness on Sunday inside his small enclosure in the southern Philippines, where he had been on display since being caught in marshlands in 2011.
"We want to find out the real cause of death so there will be no misinformation and speculation," Ms Mundita Lim, head of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, told AFP, explaining why the autopsy was carried out.
Ms Lim said that the full results would not be known until the end of the week.
