Madras Crocodile Bank Trust

The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, on the coast between Chennai and Mahabalipuram, was founded in 1976 by the American-born herpetologist Romulus Whitaker as a place to breed and protect India's crocodilians at a time when wild populations were collapsing. Today it is one of the best-known reptile parks in Asia and a centre for research and education, with enclosures that hold mugger crocodiles, saltwater crocodiles, gharials, alligators and caimans, along with turtles, tortoises, lizards and snakes. Pools and shaded walkways are laid out among trees, and many animals can be seen basking within an arm's length behind fences. What makes the park more than a zoo is its mission. The trust runs breeding programmes for endangered species, particularly the gharial, a slender-snouted fish-eating crocodilian that has been brought back from the edge of extinction in parts of India. It also works on conservation, rescue, community education and research into reptile behaviour, and its staff hold talks and feeding demonstrations at set times. Visiting here supports that work, since entry fees help fund the animals' care and field projects across the country.

The park is popular with families, and children often love the enclosures with huge crocodiles resting in the sun and the chance to see baby crocodiles in shallow tanks. A reptile house displays snakes and lizards, including cobras and pythons, and a section is devoted to turtles and tortoises. Shaded paths, seating areas and a small cafe make it comfortable to spend a couple of hours. Bring a hat and water, since the walk between enclosures is in the open, and wear shoes that suit a dusty path.

Close to the park is the Irula Snake Catchers' Cooperative, a community of traditional snake catchers who collect venom for the production of antivenom. Some visits include a demonstration of how the venom is collected and how the Irula people's skills are used, and they illustrate the long relationship between the community and the reptiles of the region. Check the demonstration times and the days the cooperative is open before you go, since schedules can change and the cooperative may close on certain days.

Opening days and hours vary, and the park usually closes on one day a week, so check before planning your trip. Foreign visitors pay a higher ticket price than residents, and a separate fee may apply for cameras. The park sits on the East Coast Road about forty kilometres south of central Chennai, and many travellers fit it between DakshinaChitra and Mahabalipuram on a day trip. A private car or a guided tour makes this easy, and the tours linked here include a private driver and a guide who can add context to the visit.

Take care around the animals. Keep behind barriers, never feed or tease the reptiles, and follow staff instructions during feeding demonstrations. Keep children close, since some enclosures have open water. In hot weather, visit in the morning when the animals are more active and the shade is cooler, or late in the afternoon. Combine the visit with a seafood lunch at a beachside restaurant or a stop at a roadside stall for fresh coconut water, and you have a relaxed family afternoon on the coast.