Madras Crocodile Bank Marks 50 Years with Nationwide Tour and Free Entry Initiative

The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, located near Chennai, stepped into its 50th year on August 28, 2026, marking nearly five decades of reptile conservation and public education with the announcement of three major initiatives.

During a media interaction, founders Padma Shri Romulus Whitaker and Sai Whitaker outlined the new programmes aimed at expanding public engagement and reptile awareness across the country.

Under the first initiative, the zoo will grant free entry to all visitors on the second Wednesday of every month from August 2026 through August 2027. The institution will also offer special concessional admission rates to student groups visiting from schools and colleges.

In addition, the founders launched a nationwide awareness campaign titled 'Save the Reptiles' in partnership with The Reptile Conservancy Alliance. The campaign will run for 120 days, concluding in December 2026. A team will travel 15,000 kilometres across 22 states to highlight the ecological importance of reptiles.

During the journey, the campaign team plans to engage with school and college students, forest department officials, and wildlife enthusiasts.

Recognised as one of the world's largest reptile zoos, the Madras Crocodile Bank currently houses between 2,000 and 2,500 reptiles. Its collection includes more than 400 crocodiles, alongside pythons, anacondas, cobras, lizards, and Aldabra giant tortoises.

Since its founding, the institution has successfully bred more than 5,000 crocodiles. The founders appealed to the media to support the ongoing conservation efforts and help carry the message of reptile preservation nationwide.