Lolong, the one-ton crocodile that made the country famous, had died of fungal pneumonia, official findings of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) revealed.
PAWB Director Mundita Lim said there was fungal infection in Lolong’s lungs. However, while this may have been the cause of death, she noted that the elderly croc had been suffering from other conditions before it was transferred from the Agusan marsh.
Lolong, said to be the world’s largest crocodile in captivity, was captured in Agusan del Sur. He was first housed in a pen at the Bunawan Eco Park before being moved to the city.
Experts also suspected that the croc was also exposed to Mercury. Further tests will be conducted on the croc’s other organs at the University of the Philippines – Los Banos campus. Lesions were seen in the reptile’s intestines and other major organs, ABS CBN News reported.
