He is still The World's Largest Crocs!

Lolong was the largest crocodile in captivity. He was an Indo-Pacific or Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) measured at 20 feet 3 inches (6.17 m), making him one of the largest crocodiles ever measured from snout-to-tail. Guinness World of Records confirmed that Lolong is the world's longest crocodile ever caught and placed in captivity replacing cassius from australia.

Lolong was caught in a Bunawan creek in the province of Agusan del Sur in the Philippines on September 3, 2011.

He was captured with the joint cooperation of the local government unit, residents and crocodile hunters of Palawan. The giant crocodile was hunted over a period of three weeks, and, once he was found, it took around 100 people to bring him onto land.He became aggressive at several points during the capture, and twice broke restraining ropes before eventually being properly secured. He is estimated to be at least 50 years old.

Lolong was suspected of eating a farmer who went missing in the town of Bunawan, and also of consuming a 12-year-old girl whose head was discovered two years earlier. He was also the primary suspect in the disappearance of water buffaloes in the area. The capture of Lolong is a good advantage in protecting him for survival, against danger he posed to the humans, an attraction and income for the locality, and an opportunity for scientific study.

Bunawan made Lolong the centerpiece of an eco-tourism park for species found in the marshlands near the township. Since its capture and subsequent measurement and confirmation of international crocodile experts that Lolong was the planet’s largest in captivity, Bunawan town has become a tourism draw, with revenues running in the millions of pesos.The resort in upland Consuelo village where the crocodile had been kept was drawing hundreds of eager local and international tourists daily, generating up to P20,000 of gate receipts per day.

But a sad news broke out to the world at around 8:30 PM last sunday. The 20.4-foot worlds largest croc is dead. Filipinos expressed sadness over the death of Lolong.  As early as after Typhoon Pablo hit Agusan del Sur and other parts of Mindanao last December, Lolong, showed unusual changes. He refused to eat since last month and one of his caretaker noticed  there was a change in the color of his feces and  an unusual ballooning of his belly and the weather has been cold lately, maybe, that affected him. The cause of the croc death is still unknown until the result of his necropsy .

Experts from Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, Palawan Wildlife and Rescue Center, and Davao Crocodile Park perform a necropsy on the belly of Lolong at the Bunawan Eco-Park in Agusan del Sur early dawn Tuesday (12 January 2013). Their initial findings were inconclusive, and the experts said they have to conduct more laboratory tests and results may come in two weeks. 

It took several men just to turn the 20-foot crocodile’s body upside down. I read all the news about his death and I was in awe of what could have been the cause of his death. I have learned that lolong suffered and died because people wanted to make money off his captivity. The concrete pen where Lolong had stayed for about 18 months is not an ideal place to live in for a crocodile its size. He suffered extreme distress and misery. No zoo can come close to providing what even small crocodiles need, much less a crocodile the size of Lolong. Crocodiles are hardwired to roam freely, seek out mates, and hunt for food. These genetic imperatives are compelling, and the way that they are fulfilled in the wild cannot be replicated in captivity. They are nocturnal and, in their natural homes, they feed primarily at night. Crocodiles shun contact with humans, and captive crocodiles like Lolong never become tame.                       

This harsh truth made me asked should the government stop capturing animals from the wild?

Lolong had put Bunawan and the Philippines on the map by being the world’s largest reptile and that’s a record that can’t be erased anymore. The local government asked assistance from the National Museum to have Lolong’s body preserved. In that way we can still look and marvel at him. Last night i heard that they're going to make him 3D! Goodbye Lolong!                                                                                                                                   

 Lolong, you've been part of the Philippine History and in the heart of every Filipinos worldwide you're still the worlds largest crocs ever!   (picture credits to reuters, getty, mindanao news and google.com)

goodbye doc!

Dr. Domingo Yu and Mayor Evelyn Yu on their 43rd wedding anniversary last January 06, 2011

I wonder if you still remember the very first day you meet me. I was five that time. Coughing, with high fever wearing the light blue Mickey Mouse jacket and a denim mom put me to dress. We’re not supposed to drop by in your clinic but the hours of waiting for my pediatrician to arrive my mom said I should be sleeping and relaxing by then. So we enter your clinic you had me check my temperature, put me to a weighing scale asked me to open my mouth. you told my mom something I never know what is it about and then later you get this syringe with a needle attached that’s when I cried to death because for quite sometimes im afraid of injection. Mom told me he’s also a best doctor. You told me it’s not gonna hurt me and with a blink you get your RX pad and my check-up done. That day you caused me another phobia. From then on every time I went to visit your clinic whether for a follow-up check up or just visits that needle phobia haunt me. As I grow older in no way I remember when that phobia vanished in me. I promise myself when I was 9 not to get fever again. My fear crept in every time mom is not home for a month and the era of im ok mom whenever I feel headache.

And then I graduated from college and change my life from a private individual to public servants I saw you not just being a doctor but of an adorable man with an old age. You love your family, you’re an advocate of truth and rights, you love to help and you love to read books. That faded free BP sign in your clinic speaks of the hour you have rested and read books but instead you take care of the unfortunate patients that knock on you. They christen you lolo doc and that’s what I called you. Sometimes I heard people lies about you being a doctor but that’s not what I saw in you.

Those acknowledgment certificates you asked me to print when the mayor is not around because she forbids you of. The kulit moments at Sofitel with mayor and cindy because youre not supposed to eat that much because even if you’re a doctor your doctor forbids you. Those birthdays and anniversary pictures im proud I shot. The happy memories you share with mayor and my colleagues. We will not forget those. Today at 14:00 we will send you home.

I may not have the chance to know you more but in my eyes you’re still the best doctor not because mom told me at five you are but because you are!. Rest in Peace Doc!

saranghamnida papa!

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It has been six months since the last time i stand here in front of you grieving for my sister ate babette. The wound is still fresh and were not yet fully recovered and now here i go again today grieving as i waved my final goodbye for papa. It has been a great journey with my papa. He didnt tell me how to live. He lived and let me watch him do it. He was just a simple man who will give everything for his family and i guess there isn’t an apt word that could describe how hardworking he was because indeed he is. I never imagined in my whole life that one day i will wake up without a father. It never came across my mind either. It was him who taught me how to pray while we were growing up he had been a mom and a father to me. Its hard to live in a world where everybody is busy but to papa we were never a burden to him that's why he quit his job and focus to business so he will have more time with us and he can take of me. That night before hes dead we were planning about his upcoming birthday celebration and we were so happy.

Maninibago kami sa umaga dahil wala ng sunny side up favorite pa naman ni mom yon. Nobody will wake my sister’s up because she will be late in the office...maybe i just drag you by the hair addy. Wala na din goodnight little ones and good morning sleepy head. Come out the sun is waiting. I will always remember papa as a loving father. Sayang di ka man lang nakaexperience how is it to have a grandchild of your own and yong wish mo just like uncle awel na makapaglaba ng inihian ng magiging mga apo mo.

When ate babette die papa said it is bad to cry that much because it is not healthy and it will look you pangit but every day that passes, every night we used to see him inside ate babette’s room praying and embracing my sister picture and indeed he was crying. I know they are together now. Happy and watching us.

I want to thank all of you for comforting us in our bereavement. For my papa's family in candon city who traveled that far just to be with us. To nanang, uncle boy, aunty elsa, mommy lita, kuya marlon, ate madel, uncle popoy, aunty vangie, kuya jr, mama bing, ate lee, kuya mc thank you so much.

And that too for my mom's family. Nanay pining, aunty floy, mama iya, uncle jhun, aunty besing, uncle Mario, uncle ely, aunty malyn, aunty pura, dada calo, mama dolly, uncle awel sa lahat ng mga pinsan ko lalo na ki ate loida, mga cousin thank you!

Sa mga inaanak ni papa. Kuya obet, ate jen, kuya miyas, ate joy, ate iyang, kuya marcial, kuya leklek, ate iya salamat po saindo. Sa lahat ng mga kapitbahay naming salamat po sainyo.

All of you have been very supportive in our family. Saying thank you isnt enough. And i dont know how to pay you back but for now thank you is the very best word.

I want to say thank you too to auntie nana, lola paring, ate francia, kuya eloy, batsoy, jao, nono for they didn’ leave us during the wake, for preparing the food and the dishes and the house of course thank you so much po saindo.

To nono and dandan thank you sa gabos. CBSUA staff thank you for letting us barrow your tables and chairs. Sa mga may ari ng mga sasakyan. Maraming salamat po.

And to all of you here present today who have been praying for us your prayers gave us strength to face this trials were facing right now. Salamat pong maray.

To father jovi who is always there for me, dudoi thank you for everything and thank you too to your mom and dad. To mayor evelyn yu, madam thank you so much. Addy will be back to office soon don’t worry i know they’re very busy on the office right now. Tito Ed and tita norms, LGU officials and employees thank you.

Maybe some of you will question why is this happening to us but i dont look for any explanation why god take them too soon. All i know is that it is gods will and it is his plan.

I want to thank papa for giving me and addy the best he could afford. For loving me and addy and topher that much. You have been a good provider and a role model to me. To tell you honestly in my 21 years i never experience a hard hand of him he didnt even hit me even once and i guess same also to addy right? He was a very kind and loving father.

Syempre matagal mawawala ang sakit dahil mas doble ngayon pero kakayanin naming dahil sabi mo nga dapat parating malakas at matatag. Mamimiss ka ng mga bata dahil ang alam nila tulog ka lang dahil birthday mo at marami ka ng candy sa ref.

Sainyo po lahat ipray nyo naman po na makayanan naming itong pagsubok na ito. And i hope that now that papa is gone everything stays the same. Iniimbitahan po naming kayo pagkatapos ng libing may tanghalian po sa bahay namin. We will be glad to see you there.

I am now ready to said goodbye to you papa. Your space in the family will have a great void but we will try to move on and be strong. Don’t worry papa we can take care of ourselves and promise to learn things you want us to learn and dont worry about mom too we will take care of her. May god take you in his hands papa. I will miss you but we are letting you go. Rest well and hava goodnight.

It will be hard from now on and it will be much painful but even so we have to make it through. Sarang hamida papa!

You will always be in our heart.