The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, founded in 1976 by Romulus Whitaker and few other like minded people is a public Trust managed by a Board of Trustees. The CrocBank is located 40 km south of Chennai city on 3.2 hectares along India’s east coast road with the Bay of Bengal as a backdrop. The high aquifer on the sandy coast provides sufficient water supply and the proximity to the major ancient temple complex and tourist destination at Mahabalipuram ensures annual visitation. The Bank was initially established for the conservation and study of Indias three endangered crocodilians: the mugger, Crocodylus paluster, the gharial, Gavialis gangeticus, and the saltwater crocodile, Crocodylus porosus
Starting with 30 mugger adults, the Bank has bred over 5000 and now holds over 2400 crocodilians of 14 different species. By 1987 the CrocBank developed a much broader focus, and became the Center for Herpetology, Indias premier institution for herpetofaunal conservation, research and education. Currently besides crocodilians, the Bank maintains 12 endangered species of turtles and tortoises, five species of snakes, including the King Cobra, Ophiophagus hannah, water monitor lizards, Varanus salvator salvator, two species of pythons and albino cobras. Housed in enclosures very similar to their natural habitat visitors can get a close view of how these reptiles live in the wild.
The Crocodile Bank(44 Kms)Not far from Mamallapuram, there is a crocodile breeding and research centre that is run by the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust. This bank houses several species of Indian crocodiles and alligators from India and around the world. These reptiles are bred in captivity and are kept in their natural habitat in open pools and can be viewed by the public from a safe proximity. This farm breeds crocodiles to augment the crocodile population of wildlife sanctuaries.
Activities
The captive breeding program at the Croc Bank has been highly successful, with thousands of crocodiles reintroduced to the wild and more still sent to zoos and wildlife parks around the world. All three remain endangered, while the Gharial is critically endangered and now faces extinction. MCBT is currently home to over 2400 crocodiles, and also houses many species of turtles, snakes, and lizards which are viewable by the public.
The park is home to one of the only approved snake venom extraction centres in India, which has a daily venom extraction show for the public[citation needed]. The MCBT publishes a biannual herpetology journal called Hamadryad, and is home to one of the largest libraries of herpetological literature in India.
Visitors to the CrocBank include school and college groups, local and foreign tourists, besides amateur and professional herpetologists from within India and overseas. Apart from the entertainment value, the signboards and other visual aids sensitize people to the importance of reptiles in their ecosystems. School and college groups receive special talks and demonstrations including the chance to cuddle a baby crocodile or our amiable pythons.
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