Lolong The Crocodile To Become A Philippine Tourist Attraction

The hunt for a crocodile that ate a water buffalo in a small Philippine town is over, and locals hope to turn the creature into its star tourist attraction.

The animal, named Lolong after a wildlife expert who died of a stroke during the two-week hunt for the buffalo-killer, will live in a cage to be built in Barangay Consuelo in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur.

Weighing in at just over one ton, the male 20-foot saltwater crocodile is considered the biggest ever captured, reports The Philippine Star. Locals hope to get him into the "Guinness World Records" book, as he would likely break the current record for largest captive croc. That title is currently held by the 5.48-meter ringer Cassius, caught in Australia.

"We will really try to set a Guinness record for Lolong. We' re just waiting for the national (environment) office for further advice," Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde told the Xinhua News Agency. "I think, with what you saw, we stand a chance (to clinch it)."

Local officials who will care for Lolong will be aided by a team from the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB). He's currently living in temporary dwellings in the village of Consuelo, where the nature park is temporarily closed to help Lolong adjust to his new environment.

However, the crocodile hunt might not be over. Officials believe an even larger crocodile, who may be responsible for the death of a missing villager, might be lurking nearby, reports NTD Television. And, there may be even more creatures still.

Elorde confirmed an operation to catch the second crocodile, which will be carried out by the same group responsible for Lolong's capture.