Giant 'Deadly' Croc Denied Taste Of Freedom

A massive saltwater crocodile - believed to be the biggest ever captured alive - is set to be denied a chance at freedom.

Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) has called on the government of the Philippines to free the 21ft, one-ton creature named Lolong.

He was seized earlier this month having been suspected of eating a farmer in the southern township of Bunawan in July.

The reptile is also believed to have bitten off the head of a 12-year-old girl two years ago.

Peta campaigner Ashley Fruno said: "(The government) should do the compassionate thing and order this crocodile to be returned to his natural habitat, as taking him away to be locked up in an animal prison is just plain wrong."

But Filipino officials, who have admitted wanting to use Lolong as a tourist attraction, say he will be remain in captivity in order to protect the community.

Lolong was reported to have stopped eating for several days after his capture - a common symptom of crocodiles under stress - but can go without food for several months.

He had initially evaded hunters, despite them leaving bait including chicken, pork and dog meat.

But with the help of a large metal cable, 30 men eventually managed to subdue the beast.

Hunters said he was mostly unhurt, apart from the mark of a hook inside his jaw.

His stomach contents were examined but there was no trace of human remains or of several water buffaloes also reported missing by locals.

The crocodile easily dwarfs the biggest specimen listed in the Guinness World Records website - an 18ft male called Cassius living in an Australian nature park.

Other huge crocodiles have been recorded in press reports, including a 20ft-plus male killed in Papua New Guinea in 1982.