8-ft crocodile bolts Kidapawan zoo during flood

COTABATO CITY—An eight-foot crocodile escaped from her cage at a mini zoo in Kidapawan after a flash flood swept through the city on Saturday.

Marife Pame, chairperson of Kidapawan City Tourism and Investment Promotions, said in a radio interview that the zoo caretaker only learned the crocodile  was missing during a regular check and cleanup on Saturday afternoon.

While the crocodile is tame and is expected to have a hard time in the wild, it is still dangerous to unsuspecting villagers, Pame said.

The reptile 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 caused the Saguing River to overflow. The mini zoo is located beside the river.

Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco urged village residents living near Saguing River to report any sighting of the crocodile.

Gantuangco warned villagers not to try to capture the crocodile on their own.

Pame said she had sought the help of the police and rescue groups to find the crocodile which she described as tame but still dangerous.

Officials believe the crocodile escaped through the river and could end up in the Liguasan marsh in Maguindanao.

The marshland is known to be the habitat of wild crocodiles. Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao