13-foot crocodile captured alive in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - A 13.7 foot (4.2 meter) crododile salt water was captured alive in the Philippines, on Monday and will be reviewed to determine if it killed a fisherman last month.

The male crocodile was to be tied, blindfolded and carried by more than 10 men. It was estimated to weigh up to 770 pounds (350 kilos).

The giant was caught in a trap set up along the river Rio Tuba to hunt the crocodile that ate the legs of the fisherman, said Alex Marcaida, a spokesman for an environmental consulting in the province of Palawan.

The crocodile was captured near where partial remains of man have been found in Bataraza Township west of Palawan.

It will have to vomit to see if his stomach contains human tissue, although Marcaida said it might be too late to know for sure if the crocodile had killed the man. An 8-foot (2.4 meter) crocodile captured earlier was no trace of human tissue in her stomach.

Crocodylus porosus is the world's largest living reptile. They thrive in mangrove areas, and over the past 10 years, killed at least three people in Palawan, Marcaida said.

Wildlife workers do not get "problem crocodiles", but generally leave the crocodiles in their natural habitat. Those caught are brought to a crocodile farm and wildlife center in the provincial capital, Puerto Princesa.

The killings have occurred, he said, because the natural habitat of crocodiles have been disturbed. Some residents near where the crocodile was captured Monday were built near the mangroves, even setting up pig yard that project on the river, Marcaida added.

Crocodiles normally go back to where they had their last meal, he said, making it necessary to remove the crocodile.