MANILA: A saltwater crocodile weighing more than a ton and suspected of killing two people in the Philippines has been declared the largest such reptile in captivity by the Guinness Book of World Records.
The 6.17-meter male, nicknamed “Lolong,” was captured in the Agusan marsh on the southern island of Mindanao last September after a two-year search following the killing of a girl and the disappearance of a fisherman.
“The largest crocodile in captivity is Lolong, a saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), who measured 6.17 m,” Guinness said. “Lolong’s weight was also measured at a truck weigh-bridge and verified as 1,075 kg.”
Welinda Asis Elorde, media affairs coordinator for the town of Bunawan, which has custody of the new record-holder, said yesterday the local government had received an official certification from Guinness. “He’s doing well. I think he has already adapted to his new environment,” Elorde told AFP.
At first, Lolong was fed the equivalent of 10 percent of his body weight in beef and poultry every month, but an expert put him on a diet of eight to 10 kg a week to get him to be more active, she added.
The expert also recommended that the meat be given with skin and feathers attached, to help digestion.
“I was there (at the crocodile park where Lolong is kept) yesterday and he remains a big tourist attraction. Hundreds of people visit him in a day,” Elorde said. The Guinness record was previously held by Cassius, a 5.48-meter Australian crocodile weighing close to a ton.
Philippine boasts world’s largest croc
Philippine boasts world’s largest croc
Egypt’s grand museum begins live restoration of King Khufu’s ancient boat
- The 4,600-year-old boat was built during the reign of King Khufu, the pharaoh who also commissioned the Great Pyramid of Giza
CAIRO: Egypt began a public live restoration of King Khufu’s ancient solar boat at the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum on Tuesday, more than 4,000 years after the vessel was first built.
Egyptian conservators used a small crane to carefully lift a fragile, decayed plank into the Solar Boats Museum hall — the first of 1,650 wooden pieces that make up the ceremonial boat of the Old Kingdom pharaoh.
The 4,600-year-old boat was built during the reign of King Khufu, the pharaoh who also commissioned the Great Pyramid of Giza. The vessel was discovered in 1954 in a sealed pit near the pyramids, but its excavation did not begin until 2011 due to the fragile condition of the wood.
“You are witnessing today one of the most important restoration projects in the 21st century,” Egyptian Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy said.
“It is important for the museum, and it is important for humanity and the history and the heritage.”
The restoration will take place in full view of visitors to the Grand Egyptian Museum over the coming four years.
