For the record

After losing the world title of owning the world's largest croc during the death of Lolong the crocodile in February, the Philippines now has a chance to claim it back.

The catch: the new record setting crocodile has to be captured.

Thinking that this is a very good opportunity to claim the record back, an enclosure patterned after Lolong's capture is now being readied by the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center. The residents of Palawan are getting giddy.

If we go back to Lolong's story, we remember that he was just any other ordinary crocodile living in the wild. He was not reported to be harming anybody nor any manmade structure. He just happened to be very huge and it made him worthy of recognition.

Agusan held him captive following his capture. His pen was a tourist destination and Lolong was a star. Life was easy inside that pen - no more hunting for prey and all that. He only had to open his mouth while the caretaker fed him his meal. Not to mention the poses that he had to make in front of the tourists' cameras. But that wasn't his normal life. His fame stressed him out, reports would say. One fateful day he was struck with pneumonia and supercrocodile Lolong had to say goodbye.

I bet there would be another Lolong in the making once this other crocodile will be held captive by the authorities.

These crocodiles live so freely in our marshes and rivers. In some countries, they do not have rare animals such as these reptiles. The Philippines has been so blessed with vast natural resources and a wide variety of species.

Animals, no matter how amusing they may be, are not meant to be used for our own recognition. These creatures in the wild have their lives to live and a duty to balance the ecosystem. If we take them out of their normal environment, we disrupt the system and damage Mother Nature.

Using animals for a world record is leaning towards being an egoist. It has come to a point when humans have become abusive of the animals' inability to defend themselves. If these animals were able to speak, they'd be begging by now.

We do not need another crocodile to catch nor a new world record. Finding one was already enough for us to brag about our richness in terms of natural resources. Forcing the story to come out would only destroy the wonders of nature. Not to mention, we already have a lot of world records.

If only our earned world records uplifted the state of the Philippines, we'd already be out of our financial debt by now. Or maybe, we would be one of the powerful countries since we really have a lot to offer. Sadly, these recognitions are merely pieces of fancy paper, a chunk of metal with a sling and other forms.

The world record would also not define who we are. It takes more than a crocodile and a plaque to tell the world who Filipinos are.

Once captured, there will be a day when the new crocodile will become weak. He/she would lose energy from all the tourists visiting.  It's best to leave these crocodiles in their natural environment.  Don't take them out of the system just for a record.