The world’s largest captive crocodile Lolong  has died  in Philippines,CBS reports.

The crocodile, which was given the name Lolong, was captured in the town of Bunawan in 2011 after a three-week hunt involving dozens of people .

At the news of his death ,there was an immediate outpouring of grief among social media users, with some Filipinos even suggesting that the country declare a national day of mourning in honor of Lolong’s memory.

The local government had since kept Lolong in captivity at a wildlife sanctuary in the hopes of boosting tourism.

The exact cause of Lolong’s death is not yet known but earlier reports point to a “ballooned” stomach and a loss in appetite.

The giant reptile, which measured 6.4m (21ft) and weighed in at 1,075kg (2,370lb), had begun to draw local and foreign tourists to the town.

It was formally declared the world’s largest in captivity by Guinness World Records last year.

By UP