A visitor's guide to the Madras Crocodile Bank, ECR

What the Croc Bank is

The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, known locally as the Croc Bank, is a reptile zoo and conservation centre on the East Coast Road at Vadanemmeli. The herpetologist Romulus Whitaker set it up on 26 August 1976, with Zai Whitaker and others. It was first designed as a genetic "bank" for India's three crocodilians, the mugger, the saltwater crocodile and the gharial, which were all in trouble in the wild at the time. In 1993 it became the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology.

Today it is a recognised zoo set in about 8.5 acres of coastal sand forest. According to the trust, it houses 14 crocodilian species, three of them listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, and it also breeds several threatened turtles and tortoises. It sits about 45 km south of Chennai and 15 km north of Mamallapuram, which makes it an easy stop on any trip down the coast road.

What to see

Crocodiles and gharials. The big open pens of mugger crocodiles are the first thing most visitors remember: dozens of animals basking on the sand, perfectly still until they are not. Look for the gharials, with their long, thin snouts built for catching fish. The Croc Bank has bred these critically endangered animals since 1989. It has also bred saltwater crocodiles since 1983 and, in 2010, the rare false gharial.

Snakes, lizards and turtles. Beyond the crocodilians there are enclosures for snakes, lizards and turtles.

The venom extraction centre. Next to the park is one of the few approved venom extraction centres in India, run by the Irula Snake Catchers' Industrial Cooperative Society. The Irula community are expert snake catchers. The society was registered in 1978 and began extracting venom in 1982, and it now supplies a large share of the venom used to make anti-venom in India. On public demonstrations, handlers take snakes out of earthen pots and show how venom is collected.

Talks and feeding. The trust says feeding demonstrations run at set times, which are posted at the entrance, and it holds talks in the park at weekends. Ask at the gate when you arrive so you can plan your walk around them.

Timings and tickets

According to the Croc Bank's official visitor page:

• Open: 9 AM to 5 PM.
• Closed: every Monday.
• Adult ticket: Rs. 110, with access to all exhibits.
• Guided tour: Rs. 400 per person, led by an expert.
• VR experience: Rs. 40 per person.

Rates change from time to time, so check the official page before you go. Third-party sites still list older prices and different hours, so trust the trust's own website over them.

Tips for a good visit

• Go early. The park is outdoors and much of it is sandy and open. The reptiles are often more active in the cooler morning, and so are you. Aim to arrive close to 9 AM.
• Allow two to three hours.
• Take the guided tour. If you are curious about reptiles, the expert-led tour is worth it. The guides explain behaviour you would easily walk past on your own.
• Dress for the heat. Wear comfortable shoes, a hat and sunscreen, and carry water.
• Avoid Mondays. The park is closed every Monday, which catches out many weekend visitors who try to stretch a long weekend.

Pair it with Mamallapuram

The Croc Bank sits between Kovalam and Mamallapuram, so it fits neatly into a day on the coast road. Spend the morning with the crocodiles, have lunch, then carry on south to the Shore Temple and the rock-cut monuments of Mamallapuram for the afternoon. Our Mahabalipuram day trip guide has the details.

Make it a weekend on ECR

Most people visit the Croc Bank on a long, hot drive from the city and back. It is far more pleasant to stay on the coast and make it one easy stop in a slow weekend.

Bruno Villa is a brand-new private 3-bedroom pool villa on Casurina Bay Drive in Kovalam (Covelong), a short walk from the beach and a short drive from the Croc Bank. Visit the park in the cool of the morning, then come back for a swim in the private pool, a barbecue in the lit garden and sea views from the rooftop terrace as the evening breeze comes in. The villa sleeps up to 10 guests (2 more on request), has full power backup and Wi-Fi, and a caretaker is on site. A cook is available on request if you bring the groceries, and housekeeping can be arranged. Check-in is at 2 PM and check-out at 11 AM, which leaves a morning free for the Croc Bank on either side of your stay. Remember to pack your swimwear and pool towels.

Planning a weekend on ECR with friends? Tap the WhatsApp button on this page, send us your dates and number of guests, and we'll reply with availability.

Sources

• Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, The Visitor Experience: https://madrascrocodilebank.org/visit_us (open 9 AM–5 PM, closed all Mondays; adult Rs. 110; guided tour Rs. 400; VR experience Rs. 40; feeding timings at the entrance; weekend talks; Vadanamelli Village, East Coast Road; about 45 km south of Chennai and 15 km north of Mamallapuram)
• Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, History: https://madrascrocodilebank.org/history (original genetic repository for mugger, saltwater crocodile and gharial; renamed Centre for Herpetology in 1993; 14 crocodilian species, three Critically Endangered; breeding of threatened chelonians)
• Wikipedia, Madras Crocodile Bank Trust: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madras_Crocodile_Bank_Trust (established 26 August 1976 by Romulus Whitaker; 8.5 acres of coastal sand forest; recognised zoo; gharial breeding since 1989, saltwater crocodiles since 1983, false gharial in 2010; Irula Snake Catchers' Industrial Cooperative Society registered 1978, venom extraction from 1982)
• A Social Nomad, How to Visit the Madras Crocodile Bank near Mahabalipuram: https://asocialnomad.com/india/madras-crocodile-bank/ (Irula venom demonstration with snakes taken from earthen pots)