Bunawan, Agusan del Sur
Also known as: Home of Lolong the crocodile · Riverside municipality of the lower Agusan River
Definition
Bunawan, officially the Municipality of Bunawan, is a municipality in the province of Agusan del Sur, Philippines, within the Caraga Region (Region XIII). According to the 2024 census it has a population of 50,999. It was created on June 21, 1959, through Republic Act No. 2517. Bunawan is a riverside municipality along the Agusan River and is internationally known as the place where Lolong, once certified as the world’s largest crocodile in captivity, was captured in 2011.
Identities (Wikipedia/Wikidata/DBpedia)
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunawan,_Agusan_del_Sur
- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q627049
- DBpedia: http://dbpedia.org/resource/Bunawan
Also Known As
- Home of Lolong the crocodile
- Riverside municipality of the lower Agusan River
Examples and Analogies
Bunawan is like a gateway to the Agusan wetlands: a small riverside town whose riverbanks, marsh edges, and fish ponds form habitat shared by people and crocodiles. Its fame from Lolong placed it on the map much as a single flagship species can define a protected area elsewhere in the world.
Usage Scenarios
- An eco-tourism park built around crocodile conservation and education
- A riverside community balancing fishing livelihoods with crocodile safety
- A local research site for wetland biodiversity studies
Strategies
- Conservation-based ecotourism to fund local programs
- Community crocodile monitoring and response teams
- Sustainable fisheries management along the Agusan River
Security and Safety Measures
- Crocodile-human conflict management, including warning signs and patrols
- River safety protocols for fishing and transport
- Flood preparedness for riverside barangays during heavy rains
Historical Context
Bunawan was created in 1959 under Republic Act No. 2517, developing as a logging and agricultural outpost along the Agusan River. In September 2011 it captured global attention when a large saltwater crocodile, later named Lolong, was caught in a creek near the town. Lolong was certified by Guinness World Records as the largest crocodile in captivity; he died in February 2013.
Challenges and Controversies
- Human-crocodile conflict near riverside settlements
- Balancing ecotourism revenue with animal welfare concerns
- Wetland degradation from logging, conversion, and pollution
Related Topic
Agusan Marsh – the vast protected wetland system of the Agusan River basin whose ecology, wildlife, and crocodile populations include the Bunawan area.