'Lolong' suffered cardiac arrest, pneumonia

MANILA, Philippines - Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said Thursday that "Lolong," the worlds' largest crocodile in captivity, may have died of pneumonia and cardiac arrest.

“Lolong had a late-stage pneumonia and cardiac failure at the time of its death,” Paje said, citing the preliminary report submitted by a team of veterinarians and biology experts sent by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to Bunawan, Agusan del Sur to determine the crocodile's cause of death.

Paje said the DENR will issue a more detailed report regarding Lolong’s death in two weeks.

“The full necropsy report, which will be out within the next two weeks, will provide the details of the medical investigation that will help us determine the factors that contributed to Lolong’s health problems and eventual death,” Paje explained.

Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau Director Theresa Mundita Lim said that based on the initial report, Lolong was found to have lesions in its various major organs such as heart, lung, kidney and intestines.

“Findings indicate that there could have been a chronic infection that may have been aggravated by stress,” Lim said.

The histopathology or study of tissues taken from Lolong’s major organs is being conducted by veterinarians at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños College of Veterinary Medicine.

Lim said that Lolong's case could lead to a better understanding of the condition of crocodiles in the wild as well as how to better manage them while in captivity.

She said study could also help determine the state of the Agusan Marsh, where Lolong was captured in 2011, to possibly improve its condition for the benefit of the wildlife in it and the communities that depend on its resources. PNA