The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology

16th August 2012

I visited the Crocodile bank today. The last time I was there, I was on a school field trip.

It is one of the largest reptile zoos in the world and one of the oldest non government environmental organizations in Asia.

It's primary aim is to promote the conservation of reptiles and amphibians on the Indian subcontinent, but their inference is multidisciplinary and extends worldwide.

The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology

Underwater Gharial Exhibit
The only underwater crocodile exhibit in India

Visitors get the unique chance to see the magnificent gharial at its best; effortlessly cruising around amongst a myriad of fish and freshwater turtles, in a giant naturalistic aquarium.

Snakes at the Irula Snake-Catchers Industrial Cooperative Society (ISCICS)

Russells viper

Cobra

A Russells vipers Fangs

JAWS III

Perhaps Croc Banks most famous ‘A’ list celebrity and one of the largest saltwater crocodiles in the world.

Jaws arrived at Croc Bank shortly after it opened in 1976 and for the first few years was housed with his brothers and sisters in what was then a fairly ordinary exhibit. However, when he started to outgrow his siblings in a truly astonishing fashion, it soon became apparent that he was no ordinary crocodile, but instead a genuine giant of freakish proportions. True to form, Jaws has grown into a real Spielberg monster, and cannot even be housed with other female crocs due to his unusually savage disposition and devastating strength. Jaws now lives alone in a large, fortified enclosure and visitors can watch him being hand fed by his keepers every Sunday afternoon at 04:00 pm.