MANILA, Philippines(AP)-Villagers and veteran hunters have captured a one-ton saltwater crocodile which they plan to make the star of a planned ecotourism park in a southern Philippine town, an official said Monday.
Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde said dozens of villagers and experts captured the 21-foot(6.4-meter)male crocodile along a creek in Bunawan township in Agusan del Sur province after a three-week hunt.It could be one of the largest crocodiles to be captured alive in recent years, he said, quoting local crocodile experts.
Elorde said the crocodile killed a water buffalo in an attack witnessed by villagers last month and was also suspected of having attacked a fisherman who went missing in July.
He said he sought the help of experts at a crocodile farm in western Palawan province.
"We were nervous but it's our duty to deal with a threat to the villagers," Elorde told The Associated Press by telephone."When I finally stood before it, I couldn't believe my eyes."
After initial sightings at a creek, the hunters set four traps, which the crocodile destroyed.They then used sturdier traps using steel cables, one of which finally caught the enormous reptile late Saturday, he said.
About 100 people had to pull the crocodile, which weighs about 2,370 pounds(1,075 kilograms), from the creek to a clearing where a crane lifted it into a truck, he said.
The crocodile was placed in a fenced cage in an area where the town plans to build an ecotourism park for species found in a vast marshland(沼泽地)in Agusan, an impoverished region about 515 miles(830 kilometers)southeast of Manila, Elorde said.
"It will be the biggest star of the park," Elorde said, adding that villagers were happy that they would be able to turn the dangerous crocodile "from a threat into an asset."
Despite the catch, villagers remain cautious because several crocodiles still roam the outskirts of the farming town of about 37,000 people.
They have been told to avoid venturing into marshy areas alone at night, Elorde said.
(1)
What can we infer from the passage?
[ ]
A.
The villagers captured the crocodile by chance.
B.
The crocodile the villagers have captured is the largest crocodile captured in recent years.
C.
The town has already built an ecotourism park for the crocodile.
D.
Not all the crocodile live in saltwater.
(2)
What can we know about the crocodiles in this area according to the passage?
[ ]
A.
The crocodiles in the area are very friendly to the villagers.
B.
The crocodiles usually wander about in the center of the town.
C.
The crocodiles in the town have become a threat to the villagers.
D.
The capture of the male crocodile took three months.
(3)
What happened to the crocodile after it was captured?
[ ]
A.
It was sent to the ecotourism park for species found in a vast marshland.
B.
It was sent back to the wilderness.
C.
It was kept in a fenced cage.
D.
It became the biggest star in the park.
(4)
When Elorde finally stood before the crocodile, how did he feel?
[ ]
A.
Nervous.
B.
Proud.
C.
Shocked.
D.
Happy.
(5)
In Elorde’s opinion, the existence of the crocodile in the wild in this area is ________.