Former largest croc reclaims title

BRISBANE, Australia, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- A captive Australian crocodile reclaimed the title of world's largest after the death of its successor in the Philippines, Guinness World Records said.

Guinness said Lolong, the 20.2-foot-long crocodile declared to be the world's largest last year, died in captivity, returning the title of world's largest captive crocodile to the previous record holder, 18-foot-long Cassius at a Queensland crocodile park, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported Tuesday.

Billy Craig, a worker at the crocodile park, said it's a bittersweet occasion.

"On one side, we know that Cassius is now the king, but on the other side a 6.17- meter (20.2-foot) crocodile, one of Cassius's kin, has died, and it's a shock at the same time as being good news for us," he said.