Madras Crocodile Bank Trust/Centre for Herpetology

RESEARCH Research within MCBT and in the field has covered a wide range of herpetological topics since 1976 and has resulted in over 300 scientific publications (a list of these is included in the appendices). A main strength of the facility is that it functions as a large outdoor laboratory, in which over 2,400 reptiles of different taxa live and breed. MCBT houses 14 species of crocodilians, over 20 species of freshwater turtles and tortoises, water monitor lizards and four species of snakes including king cobras. Select enclosures are wired to record all the basic environmental parameters to facilitate studies on the biology of the reptiles here. The animals quickly habituate to the presence of visitors, so the facility affords an especially excellent opportunity to observe and document behaviour and social interactions at close range, many of which are rarely, if ever, seen in the wild. Research focusing on conservation of endangered species and groups of herpetofauna has been conducted at MCBT since its inception. Both in captivity and in the wild in north and south India, as well as in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In addition to hosting numerous international meetings of the IUCN Specialist Groups dealing with reptiles, the Crocodile Bank has served as a regional source of status information for the World Conservation Monitoring Centre and since 1978 has hosted numerous local and international specialists. CONSULTATION Madras Crocodile Bank staff have been consulted on reptile management and conservation issues by a wide range of organisations including: Food and Agriculture Organisation, World Wide Fund for Nature, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, National Geographic Society, and the governments of Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bhutan, Brunei, Sri Lanka, India and Nepal. Advice and help has been given regarding captive maintenance of reptiles, status surveys in the wild, setting up crocodile farms, trapping nuisance crocodiles, conservation and management plans, research projects and filming/photography of reptiles. CONSERVATION The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, the first crocodile conservation breeding centre in Asia, was founded by Romulus Whitaker in 1976 to conserve Indian crocodilians and establish programmes for the conservation and propagation of other species of endangered reptiles. Over the years, over 1500 crocodiles and several hundred eggs have been supplied to various State Forest Departments for restocking programmes in the wild, and for setting up of breeding facilities in other states in India and neighboring countries. Several species of crocodiles, monitor lizards and king cobras have been supplied to several zoos in India and abroad. MCBT researches have also conducted crocodile surveys for states in India and other countries. MCB started the first sea turtle surveys and conservation programme in India, including a sea turtle hatchery. Its reports and recommendations have played a major role in the conservation of Indian reptiles. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION MCBT has an on going EE programme for the villages and schools that include nature camps, training workshops for teachers, youth from fishing villages and resource personnel. Frequent mobile exhibition cum awareness programmes for the fishing villages along the East Coast Road are also conducted. Other activities include field trips, education programmes for the nature clubs from the rural schools and competitions. MCBT has also set up a multi Puppet theatre which is being used as part of the programme to generate awareness among children. This age old traditional art form is used as an innovative communication tool that has tremendous scope to develop individual skills and innovations.

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