Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary
| Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
| Location | Agusan del Sur, Philippines |
| Nearest city | Bislig |
| Coordinates | 8°19′0″N 125°52′0″E / 8.31667°N 125.86667°E |
| Area | 14,835.99 hectares (36,660.5 acres) |
| Established | October 31, 1996 |
| Governing body | Department of Environment and Natural Resources |
| Designated | November 12, 1999 |
| Reference no. | 1009 |
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The Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Agusan del Sur, Philippines declared by President Fidel V. Ramos. The marshland acts like a sponge, as it is nestled in the midwaters of the Agusan River drainage basin. Within its lakes, several floating communities can be found. The sanctuary was home to the 20.24 feet (6.17 m) saltwater crocodile Lolong, the world's largest captive crocodile.
It is located in the municipalities of Bunawan, La Paz, Loreto, Rosario, San Francisco, Talacogon, and Veruela in the province of Agusan del Sur. The marsh was declared as a Ramsar Wetland Site in 1999. The site is currently being re-evaluated for nomination to the tentative list of UNESCO.
Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a national park under Republic Act No. 11038 (Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018) signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in July 2018.