Celebrity croc 'Lolong' earns P.4 M

BUNAWAN, Agusan del Sur, Philippines – Visitors who want to get a glimpse of “Lolong,” the 6.4-meter (21-foot) celebrity crocodile captured last Sept. 3, have paid more than P430,000 since October, a spokesman for an eco-park here said yesterday.

Kagawad Apollo Canoy, spokesman for the Bunawan Eco-Park and Research Center, said an average of P8,000 in entrance and parking fees is collected daily.

“Of course these (earnings) include donations from well-meaning individuals and groups who, after seeing Lolong, volunteered to donate certain amounts and the Bunawan LGU issued official receipts for their benevolence,” Elorde said.

The Bunawan Municipal Council recently passed Municipal Ordinance 09-2011 regulating and imposing fees on gate entrance, parking and other fees at the Bunawan Eco-Park where the celebrity crocodile now resides.

Under the ordinance, entrance fee is P20 per adult and P15 for children on weekdays and P40 for adults and P30 for children during weekends and holidays.

Senior citizens and disabled persons could enter free of charge.

Canoy claimed that while the eco-park is earning, they are also incurring huge expenses for electricity, maintenance and other incidental expenses like the installation of close circuit television cameras inside the park.

Lolong is now being kept at a fenced pond at the remote Bunawan Eco-Park and Research Center in Barangay Consuelo, some 10 kilometers away from Bunawan town proper.

The Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) reported that the condition of Lolong has improved after it was earlier reported to be suffering from stress from its capture and the animal refused to eat.

PAWB Director Mundita Lim said Lolong is now eating pieces of pork and chicken and has shown signs of becoming active again, especially at night.

Welinda Asis-Elorde, Bunawan media coordinator for the crocodile project, said Bunawan would start a P200-million site development project for the Bunawan Eco-Park and Research Center.

Bunawan engineer Robert Floyd Salise said the new project includes the construction of cottages for tourists, swimming pools, an amphitheater, laboratory and research center, souvenir shops, a pavilion and other amenities.

Meanwhile, bakery owner Jean de la Peña-Barcena said they are selling crocodile-shaped bread called Lolong bread at their store in Bunawan.

She said the Lolong bread, designed by her nephew Dodong Sabalburo, was a bestseller.

Barcena said visitors from other towns are also buying the bread.

“It was just some sort of fun for us to design bread that looks like a crocodile, inspired after my husband and I personally saw the giant crocodile at close range after his capture. We admit the design of the Lolong bread was difficult at first as we do it only by hand,” Barcena said.

Hunt set for Lolong’s mate

Local officials here reported that the hunt will start in the middle of November for the second giant crocodile believed to be the mate of Lolong.

Bunawan Mayor Edwin Elorde said the hunters will begin operations once the new P1.1-million cage is completed.

Residents of Barangay Nueva Era reportedly spotted the heads of two giant crocodiles at the same creek where Lolong was captured. The creek is part of the huge Agusan Marsh.

Last Sept. 30, Barangay Nueva

Crocodile experts said there are an estimated 5,000 wild crocodiles in Agusan Marsh.

“Hopefully by Nov. 15 the second special cage built for the second giant crocodile is already completed and ready for the occupant which is bigger, wider and fiercer than Lolong,” Elorde said.

Elorde said they are only following instructions from PAWB not to start the hunt for the other giant crocodile if the second cage is not yet finished.

A team from the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center and local hunters, hired by Elorde, captured Lolong last September.

“The concern maybe is that even if we capture the second giant crocodile at the Agusan Marsh where will we put it?” Elorde said.

Salise said the second cage cost Bunawan P1.1 million while Lolong’s special cage cost P800,000.

Elorde has already placed placards in the area where Lolong was captured warning residents not to go near the area at night.