INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
COTABATO CITY, Philippines — An eight-foot long female crocodile that supposedly escaped from its cage in a mini zoo in Kidapawan City following a flashflood there on Saturday.
Marife Pame, chair of the Kidapawan City Tourism and Investment Promotions, said in a radio interview that the caretaker of the mini-zoo learned of the “missing” crocodile only during a regular check and cleanup on Saturday afternoon.
The crocodile, having been in captivity for some time, is expected to have a hard time adjusting in the wild but is still dangerous to unsuspecting villagers, according to Pame.
The croc is one of the attractions at the zoo and park located at The Landmark, a tourist spot in Kidapawan City.
On Saturday, a heavy downpour triggered the Saguing River to overflow.
The mini zoo is located beside the river.
Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco urged village officials and residents living near the river to report any sighting of the crocodile to the authorities and leave its capture to the experts.
Pame said she already sought the help of police and rescue groups to help locate the crocodile which she described as tamed in the zoo but remains dangerous.
Officials fear the crocodile may have escaped through the river and could end up in Liguasan marshland in Maguindanao. The marshland is known to be the habitat of wild crocodiles.