Madras Crocodile Bank Trust

Infobox Organization
name = Madras Crocodile Bank Trust


image_border =
size = 400px
caption = Centre for Herpetology


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abbreviation = CrocBank
motto =
formation = 1976
extinction =
type = NGO
status = Non profit public trust
purpose = Herpetofaunal conservation, research and education
headquarters =
location = North of Mahabalipuram at: coord|12.780|N|80.239|E|
region_served = India
membership =
language = Tamil, English
leader_title = Founder/director/trustee
leader_name = Romulus Whitaker
main_organ = Board of Trustees
parent_organization =
affiliations = Central Zoo Authority of India, IUCN/SSC: Snake Specialist Group, Crocodile Specialist group, Tortoise and Freshwater Turtles Specialist Group, Marine Turtle Specialist Group, Indian Subcontinent Reptile & Amphibian Group, Captive Breeding Specialist Group, Sustainable Use of Wild Species Group.
num_staff = 49
num_volunteers =|budget =
website = http://www.madrascrocodilebank.org
remarks =

The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust (MCBT) is a reptile zoo and herpetology research station, located 40km south of the city of Chennai, in state of Tamil Nadu, India. It was established with the aim of saving three Indian endangered species of crocodile - the marsh or mugger crocodile, the saltwater crocodile, and the gharial, which at the time were all nearing extinction. The centre was originally located in Guindy National Park and was known as the "Guindy Snake Park". The center covers 3.2 hectares and had 60,000 visitors in 1999.

Activities

The captive breeding program at the CrocBank has been highly successful, with thousands of crocodiles reintroduced to the wild and more still sent to zoos and wildlife parks around the world. The CrocBank is currently home to over 2400 crocodiles, and also houses many species of turtles, snakes, and lizards which are viewable by the public.

The centre has a daily venom extraction show for the public. They publish a monthly newsletter, [http://madrascrocbank.blogspot.com "Here Be Dragons"] .The Trust also publishes a biannual herpetology journal called "Hamadryad", and is home to one of the largest libraries of herpetological literature in India.

Affiliations

MCBT in one of only 2 zoos in Tamil Nadu recognised by the Central Zoo Authority of India. In addition to several IUCN specialist groups this organization maintains active collaborations with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations,World Congress of Herpetology,World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)- India & International,Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun,Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai,Centre for Environment Education, Ahmedabad,Chicago Herpetological Society, USA,Fauna and Flora International, UK,Development Alternatives, New Delhi,Irula Tribal Women’s Welfare Society, Chennai,Irula Snake Catchers’ Cooperative , Chennai,International Gecko Society, USA,International Association of Zoo Educators, UK,Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, Chennai,Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust, UK,Wildlife Preservation Trust International, USA,Tamil Nadu Society for Social Forestry Research, Chennai,Niligiri Wildlife Association, Ootacamand,Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology & Natural History, Coimbatore,Anna University, ChennaiMadras Veterinary College, Chennai,Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai,Pondicheery University, Pondicherry,Andaman & Nicobar Islands State Wildlife Board, Port Blair,Andaman & Nicobar Islands State Level Environmental Council, Port Blair,Andaman & Nicobar Islands ‘Monitoring Committee for the Working Plan for the South Andaman Division’, Andaman & Nicobar Coastal Zone Management Authority,Andamans Science Association, Port Blair,Society for the Andaman & Nicobar Ecology, Port Blair,Auroville Index Seminum, Tamil Nadu,Ashoka Innovators for the Public, New Delhi,Kalpavriksh, Pune,Indian Institute of Public Administration, New DelhiCoral Reef Monitoring Network- South East Asia, Sri LankaSurvival International, UK,Trust for Environmental Education (TREE), Chennai,Zoo Outreach Organisation, Coimbatore,The Indian people’s Tribunal on Environment &Human Rights, Mumbai,The Wildlife Trust of India, New Delhi,Smithsonian Institution, USA,Marine Conservation Society, U K. and theUNEP/Conservation for Migratory Species of Wild Animals, Germany.

Visitor information

Open Tuesday to Sunday– 8 am to 6 pm- Monday holiday.Gate fee:Adult- Rs .20/- Children below 10 years- Rs.10/- School groups- Rs. 5 per child below 10 years & upto 5 teachers freeVideo camera-Rs. 75/- Still camera-Rs. 10/-

Contact

Madras Crocodile Bank TrustCentre for Herpetology,Post Bag No 4,Mamallapuram-603 104,Tamil Nadu, S. IndiaPh: [phone]Fax: [phone]Email:[e-mail]

Payal NarainProjects coordinator, Nikhil WhitakerCurator

References

* [http://www.madrascrocodilebank.org Madras Crocodile Bank Trust Centre for Herpetology]
* [http://envfor.nic.in/cza/madras.htm Central Zoo Authority of India]
* [http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/features/detailfeatures.php?id=814| Sanctuary Asia] 2006 Sanctuary-ABN AMRO, Lifetime Service Award - Romulus Whitaker

ee also

* Central Zoo Authority of India (CZA), Governing Authority of all Zoos in India
* Zoo Outreach Organisation (ZOO), India is an NGO
* List of Zoos in India
* Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
* List of zoos
* Animals in captivity
* Environmental enrichment
* Heini Hediger
* Zoology
* Wildlife conservation
* Biodiversity
* Endangered species
* Extinction
* Ex-situ conservation
* In-situ conservation
* List of Conservation topics

External links

* [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/reptiles/gators.html The Madras Crocodile Bank is mentioned in this PBS documentary]