Madras Crocodile Bank is a center for the study of reptiles, called Herpetology. It is situated about 40 kilometers away from Chennai. To save crocodiles from going extinct, this crocodile bank was started by the noted herpetologist Romulus Whitaker and Zai Whitaker, his wife.
The bank was established with the aim of conserving reptiles and amphibians through education, research, and breeding in captivity.
This crocodile bank is a zoo comprising of reptiles and a study center of herpetology. It is considered Asia’s first Crocodile Breeding Center. The Madras Crocodile Bank is governed by the Central Zoo Authority and the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Government of India.
The reptile zoo was established to protect three species of crocodiles- the mugger or the marsh crocodiles, the saltwater crocodiles, and the gharials. Sprawling a large area of about 8.5 acres, this zoo has one of the largest collections of alligators and crocodiles in the world.
The primary aim of the Madras Crocodile Bank is to breed crocodiles- the primary attraction of the Crocodile Bank is the Crocodile Conservation Center, which has conserved and bred thousands of crocodiles ever since it originated.
The other major attraction of the Madras Crocodile Bank is the venom extraction show for the public. The venom extractors are the Irulas, which are considered the local ‘forest scientists’ who are experts in traditional herbal medicines and are known as expert snake catchers.
It is also credited as the largest venom collection center in the country. The venom extracted is used for making anti-venom vaccines, which are used to treat snakebite victims.
Of the 23 listed species of Crocodiles in the world, the Madras Crocodile Bank is a home to 14 species of these majestic reptiles of which some species are critically endangered and threatened. The Crocodile Bank thus plays a pivotal role in reptile conservation and breeding.
The other activity to watch out for in the Madras Crocodile Bank is crocodile enrichment where crocodiles exercise and play under human supervision, which ensures their physical and mental fitness.
In 2016, the Madras Crocodile Bank completed 40 years of its establishment- a great victory indeed!
In a bid to sensitize children towards wildlife conservation, the park organizes special birthday parties for children wherein the kids get to see the reptiles up close and celebrate their birthdays in a special way. Such celebrations ensure that children grow up into responsible individuals and do their bit for the protection and conservation of endangered species.
Guided tours are organized, as are amazing night safaris. The Madras Crocodile Bank is also a haven for avifauna, the beautiful birds! It is said that more than 60 species of birds roam the skies of the park, thus making it a bird sanctuary: Black drongo, Indian pond Heron, Spotted Dove, Indian Treepie, etc to name a few.
To connect the common citizens with reptile conservation, a very welcome step has been taken by the Madras Crocodile Bank wherein one can adopt a reptile. Under this scheme, visitors are provided a free pass to the bank for a year along with other goodies that include T-shirt, certificate of adoption, etc. This step goes a long way in conservation of species and in helping bear the costs associated with the maintenance of the park.
In you wish to explore the Madras Crocodile Bank and its incredible denizens, look no further than the tours to the region organized by 5 senses tours which are the best way to witness the reptiles in-situ and ex-situ. 5 senses tours have been promoting sustainable tourism- you can be a part of it too! Know more about the tour here.
Leave a Reply