The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology (MCBT) is a reptile zoo and herpetology research station, located 40 km (25 mi) south of the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The centre is both a registered trust and a recognized zoo under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and comes under the purview of the Central Zoo Authority, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. The establishment is located on a 8.5 acres (3.4 ha) site covered by coastal sand forests, along the coast of Bay of Bengal. The MCBT was established in 1976 with the primary aim of conservation of three Indian species of crocodiles — mugger crocodile, saltwater crocodile and gharial. It was expanded as a centre for herpetology and research of other reptile species in 2003. The centre has bred over 5000 crocodiles since its inception and is one of the largest reptile zoos in the world. As of 2024, the park had 15 species of crocodiles including three critically endangered species and 33 other reptilian species. The park recorded about 0.42 million annual visitors from April 2018 to March 2019. The trust also runs three field stations at South Andaman, Agumbe in Karnataka, and the Chambal valley in Uttar Pradesh as well as a snake venom extraction centre. It is also involved in various research, conservation and educational projects.
History
Towards the end of the 19th century, hunting of crocodiles for their skin began and by the 1960s, wild populations of the crocodiles were reducing. Amongst the three Indian species, the mugger (Crocodylus palustris) had disappeared from most of its range, the gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) was critically endangered and saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) numbers were threatened. The crocodile species were protected under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 by the Government of India. The Crocodile Conservation Project was launched by the Indian government in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1975, for the protection and captive breeding of crocodiles. The Madras Crocodile Bank was conceived in 1973 and it was established on 26 August 1976 by herpetologist Romulus Whitaker with his wife Zai Whitaker and others. The bank was started for the protection and breeding of Indian crocodile species.
The Crocodile Bank later developed a captive breeding program for freshwater turtles and tortoises. In the 1980s, the bank was established on the Moyar River to study the mugger crocodiles. In 1990, the Andaman and Nicobar Environmental Team (ANET) was set up as a division of the bank with a station established on a 5 acres (2.0 ha) stretch of land in Wandoor, on the southern tip of South Andaman in 1993. The newsletter Hamadryad being published by the trust since 1976 was converted into a full scientific journal in 1991. In 2003, the bank was renamed the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Center for Herpetology and additional exhibits of other reptiles were added. The trust is also involved in research on snake venom and in 2005, the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station was established in Agumbe in Karnataka for the study of King Cobra and other diverse animals and ecosystems of the Western Ghats. In 2005, Rom Whitaker was given a Whitley Award and used the money to assist in setting up the Agumbe station. In 2011, the Crocodile Bank announced plans for the construction of a new frontage and satellite facility, followed by the redesign and construction of the display area including new enclosures with glass facades, walkways and interactive features. As per the new plan, estimated at ₹100 million (US$1.0 million), the park would be divided into four areas corresponding to various geographies with thematic landscaping, interactive displays and signage. The plan included a separate gharial exhibit, entry plaza with a café, parking areas and an interpretation centre that houses small crocodiles, snakes, turtles and lizards on the upper level and underwater viewing of the largest saltwater crocodile exhibit in the park, on the lower level. In 2018, Whitaker was presented with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award by the Government of India. In 2020, the trust faced financial problems due to COVID-19 pandemic induced lockdown. The trust raised funds through crowd funding to mitigate the situation and for further planned developments.
Organisation
The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust was established in 1976 which runs a reptile zoo and herpetology research station. The centre is both a registered trust and a recognized zoo under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and comes under the purview of the Central Zoo Authority, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. The Crocodile Bank is situated on a 8.5 acres (3.4 ha) stretch of land, located about 40 km (25 mi) south of Chennai on the East Coast Road at Vadanemmeli near Thiruvidandhai, along the Bay of Bengal. The bank runs three field bases namely Andaman and Nicobar Environmental Team at South Andaman, Agumbe Rainforest Research Station at Agumbe and Gharial Ecology Project in Chambal valley. The trust is affiliated with more than 47 institutions including The World Conservation Union (IUCN), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Marine Conservation Society and Smithsonian Institution. The trust manages a snake venom extraction center, operated by the Irula tribes.
Wildlife conservation
Animal research and education
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