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| Crocodile Bank |
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History
The renowned Crocodile Bank or Croc Bank of Chennai is one of the largest reptile zoos in the world. The Crocodile Bank is also known as the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology and since its inception has been diligently working to save the dwindling population of crocodiles in India.
With a primary purpose of promoting the conservation of reptiles and amphibians on the Indian subcontinent, the Crocodile Bank was the brainchild of legendary Romulus Earl Whitaker, who along with few like-minded conservation visionaries started work on the facility in 1976. And today after more than 30 difficult years of cutting edge science and grassroots education, the Crocodile Bank is a world leader in the field of frontline conservation and the preservation of natural landscapes.
Initially designed to be a living genetic repository of crocodiles, where the crocodiles would be safeguarded, protected and be able to increase their population until such time when they would be returned to their original wild habitats, today, the Crocodile Bank has stopped releasing these reptiles into the wild owing to the lack of suitable habitat.
Situated at a distance of approximately 45kms south of Chennai and 15kms from Mamallapuram, the Crocodile Bank, currently boasts of a large reptile park near Chennai and several field projects that are located throughout the subcontinent, which reaches as far as the Nicobar Islands.
Presently the Crocodile Bank is home to 18 species of crocodiles, three of which are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as critically endangered with a further three listed as threatened.
Currently the zoo with its population of crocodiles, turtles, lizards and snakes received more than half a million visitors per year thus making it one of the most popular tourist attractions along the well-known East Coast Road in Chennai.
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Best time to visit
The best time to visit to this unique Crocodile Bank is between November and February as the weather during this time is pleasant enough to explore this Crocodile Bank.
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Trivia
American by birth and Indian at heart, the legendary Romulus Earl Whitaker is a world-class herpetologist who founded the renowned the Madras Crocodile Bank and Centre for Herpetology in Chennai.
Romulus Whitaker has been enlisted as a wildlife consultant by United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation.
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Timing
The Crocodile Bank is opened to public from 8:30am to 5:30pm from Tuesday to Sunday except on Monday.
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Travel Tools
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