The world's largest saltwater crocodile measuring the giant at 20.24 feet (6.17 meters) has died while being in captivity, sending villagers to tears in the backwater southern Philippine town that had started to draw tourists, revenue and development because of the immense reptile.

In fact, the crocodile had been blamed for deadly attacks on people before it was captured in 2011 and sent to live at an eco-tourism park that was built to house the giant. As a matter of fact,the reptile quickly became a star attraction of marshy Bunawan, a far-flung town of 37,000 people in Agusan del Sur province about 515 miles (830 kilometers) southeast of Manila.

According to Bunawan town Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde, the Giant was weighing 1- ton it's age was estimated to be more than 50 years old and that the authorities will try to determine the cause of it's death. He also expressed his love for the crocodile and the death has made him sad.

To say more, about 100 people led by Elorde pulled the crocodile from a creek using a rope and then hoisted it by crane onto a truck. It was named "Lolong" after a government environmental officer who died from a heart attack after traveling to Bunawan to help capture the beast

Moreover, “Guinness World Records” had proclaimed it the largest saltwater crocodile in captivity last year, measuring the giant at 20.24 feet (6.17 meters) has taken over the top spot from an Australian crocodile that measured more than 17 feet (5 meters) and weighed nearly a ton.

The Gigantic reptile has been the reason for making the town prosper commercially and gain fame while bringing them a world honour.

It's indeed mournful to lose such a great species!

(AW:Samrat Biswas)