Philippine: 250 villagers, environmentalists and local execs send off croc

10 years ago | Posted in: World | 768 Views

DUNGGUAN, M’lang, Philippines—Malang, the largest freshwater crocodile captured here on April 12, is finally home.

Malang, obviously got a grand welcome from his own kind as a group of smaller reptiles was on the same spot where he was set free around 5 p.m. on Friday, officials said.

“Fresh footprints of smaller crocodiles were visible (at the edge) of the marsh; obviously Malang was not alone in the wild,” Mayor Joselito Pinol told the Inquirer.

“Maybe, they were aware of Malang’s homecoming and waited for him but ran away when they saw humans accompanying the Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis),” he added in jest while pointing at crocodile footprints on the mud.

Malang was also visibly excited at being home. Before his release, Piñol said, he had shown some “excitement” through body movements.

The night before his release, Malang kept on moving around his enclosure near the town hall, one of his two caretakers said.

“It seems Malang knew that he would be released and reunited with other crocs in the Liguasan Marsh,” said Hernand Dapudong, Malang’s caretaker.

He said the crocodile often moved its tail and created splashes. Prior to this, Malang was calm.

“It was unusual because he had been calm since the local government took custody of him on April 13 from the fishermen who captured him,” Dapudong said.

As it was being transported back to the marsh from the town hall, Malang had unusual body movements, Pinol said.

He said the reptile would move its tail left and right during the two-hour trip from the town hall to this village.

When Malang was brought down from the dump truck through a hammock that six men helped to carry, he was calm again… see more

source: inquirer

Tags: , ,

Share it.

Leave a Reply

Related Posts