World's largest crocodile Lolong dies in Philippines

The town of Bunawan in the southern Philippines is planning a funeral for the world's largest saltwater crocodile after which they will preserve its remains in a museum to keep tourists coming. 

The giant reptile has brought pride, fear, tourism revenues and attention to the remote town where it was captured. 

The saltwater crocodile named Lolong, which was captured last September in Bunawan town in Agusan del Sur province, measures 20.24 feet and weighs more than a ton, Guinness spokeswoman Anne-Lise Rouse said in a statement. 

The crocodile was captured with steel cable traps during a three-week hunt after a child was killed in 2009 and a fisherman went missing. 

The reptile took the top spot from an Australian crocodile which measured more than 17 feet (5 meters) and weighed nearly a ton. 

Guinness World Records proclaimed the giant, blamed for deadly attacks before it was captured in 2011, the largest saltwater crocodile in captivity last year, saying it measured 20.24 feet (6.17 metres).

Authorities will try to determine what caused the death of the reptile, which had become a star attraction of the marshy town of 37,000 people about 515 miles (830 kilometres) southeast of Manila, Mr Elorde said.

Experts estimate that the crocodile was more than 50 years old, according to Mr Elorde.