‘Singko’ tagged as Palawan’s killer croc

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PNA) – Wildlife authorities here confirmed on Wednesday that ‘Singko’ is the notorious crocodile that attacked and killed a fisherman recently in Balabac town in southern Palawan.

Salvador Guion, crocodile hunting expert and chief of the technical section of the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (PWRCC), said the male saltwater crocodile was the one responsible for the death of Balabac fisherman Cornelio Bonete who was killed on November 28.

Guion was part of the team that also captured ‘Lolong’, the 20-foot three-inch saltwater crocodile in Bunawan Creek, Agusan del Sur in September 2011.

“This analysis is based on our behavioral observation of the crocodile, then community information on what is the size of the crocodile that stays in the area, where the accidental attack happened. And considering other reports, the percentage is high that he is the attacker,” Guion said during a press conference called by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS).

‘Singko’ was captured with a cable snare trap with goat meat on December 1 at Carandungan Bay, Poblacion 5, Balabac by the PWRCC team he led.

After securing the crocodile, he said, they went back to Carandungan Bay to get the reaction of the Bonete family since they personally saw the crocodile before the attack.

He said Efren Bonete, the eldest brother of the victim, confirmed that it was the killer crocodile because of a “marking point on its tail.”

“He said it is the crocodile that attacked his brother because of a wound on its tail. The crocodile got the wound when its tail hit the outrigger of the victim’s fishing boat,” Guion added.

Meanwhile, PWRCC director Ronie Gandeza explained that veterinarian Dr. Terry Aquino ruled against conducting the gastrointestinal decontamination on ‘Singko’ because it was already stressed when it was transported to their facility.

“In her assessment, she said the animal was already in so much stress, it already needs to be released inside its pen, or the gastric lavage will cause its death. She said it’s no longer advisable due to the delay in the transportation to the city,” the PWRCC director said.