‘Lolong’ eats finally

‘Lolong’ INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato—“Lolong,” the one-ton captured saltwater crocodile, had a meal for the first time on Monday, after refusing to eat for about a month since his capture in the Agusan Marsh.

Welinda Asis-Elorde, media relations coordinator of Bunawan town, on Tuesday said Lolong ate the 7 kilograms of raw pork that a worker at the wildlife park gave him at around 10 p.m. on Monday.

Asis-Elorde said the reptile would be served a meal again Tuesday night.

“Maybe he is not satisfied. We usually feed pork and dressed chicken alternately,” she said.

Bunawan Mayor Edwin Elorde said the latest development showed Lolong was in good condition.

Dr. Rex Linao, executive director of the Agusan Development Foundation, said Lolong was a victim of illegal fishing in the Agusan Marsh, with fishermen encroaching on the reptiles’ feeding areas.

Fishermen using electric rods and other methods may have also disturbed the marsh’s animals, Lolong included, said Linao, a co-chairman of the Agusan Marsh biodiversity management committee. Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao

Originally posted: 4:00 pm | Tuesday, October 4th, 2011