Lolong necropsy report due in two weeks–DENR

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it would take at least two weeks before the result of the necropsy on Lolong, the world’s largest crocodile in captivity before it died on Feb. 10, will be known.
DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje said the necropsy report will be made public once it is released by the University of the Philippines-Los Baños College of Veterinary Medicine (UPLB-CVM), where Lolong’s tissue samples are currently being examined.
The tissue samples were provided by a team of veterinarians and other experts sent by the DENR to Bunawan, Agusan del Sur upon learning that Lolong was found dead at an eco-tourism park that served as its home since it was captured in 2011.
“The necropsy is just the initial step in determining the cause of Lolong’s death. There are still several studies to be done, and the results could be out in as early as two weeks, but may take longer,” Paje said.
The environment chief likewise appealed to the public and the media to refrain from speculating over the cause of Lolong’s death pending the result of the necropsy.
“All official details of the investigation shall be coursed through the office of the Director of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB),” he said.
PAWB Director Theresa Mundita Lim said the tissue samples from Lolong’s vital organs were sent to UPLB-CVM for histopathological evaluation.
“The study will determine any illnesses Lolong may have had that may or may not have led to his death, and how long he may have had them. It is a long, painstaking process that cannot be rushed to ensure accurate results,” she said.
At the same time, Lim belied reports that Lolong died after having ingested nylon rope. “The team did not find any foreign objects in his stomach, save for a few small pebbles which are usually present among crocodiles that feed in the wild.”
She said the DENR team worked overtime to finish the necropsy and gather the necessary samples. The organs are currently preserved for further study.
The seven-man team, led by a veterinarian from the PAWB, was also composed of veterinarians and biological experts from the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (formerly the Crocodile Farm Institute), the UPLB-CVM, the Marine Wild Fauna Watch, and the National Museum of the Philippines.