SaurabhVerse

Imagine a place where hundreds of crocodiles are just lying around, stacked one over another, barely moving, giving you a deadpan stare that makes you wonder what’s going on in their heads. Sounds exciting, right? Well, that’s exactly the scene at Chennai Crocodile Bank (officially called the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology), and believe me, it was one of my favourite weekend getaways when I lived in Chennai.

Between 2012 and 2017, I must have visited this place seven or eight times with family and friends, yet it never got old. Every time, I discovered something new—be it a giant croc lazing in a pond, a snake I had never noticed before, or a docent (that’s what they call their guides) sharing an interesting fact I hadn’t heard before. But let’s start from the beginning.

A Quick History Lesson (Don’t Skip, It’s Fun!)

The Crocodile Bank was set up in 1976 by Romulus Whitaker, a guy so passionate about reptiles that he built this place to save India’s endangered crocodiles—the gharials, saltwater crocs, and mugger crocs. Over time, it became a full-fledged conservation center, home to not just crocodiles but also snakes, turtles, and even an iguana!

Located on the beautiful East Coast Road (ECR), about 14 km from Chennai, this place carries a ticket of just ₹60 for adults and ₹30 for kids. If you’re up for an adventure, they also have a night safari where they hand you a torch and let you explore the park in the dark (more on that later).

Meeting Jaws – The King of the Crocs

Now, if you’ve ever wanted to see the largest captive crocodile in all of India, this was the place. Meet Jaws.

This massive beast, who was more than 15 feet long and weighed close to 500 kilograms, was the undisputed king of the Crocodile Bank. He was HUGE! I don’t think I have ever seen a crocodile this big in my life. He barely moved, just chilling in his enclosure, acting like he owned the place (which, honestly, he did).

But the real drama unfolded during his feeding time on Sunday afternoons. Jaws, in particular, got the VIP treatment in his own personal pen. I once saw a caretaker trying to get him to open his mouth, and trust me, watching a human poke a giant croc’s jaw to get him to eat was nerve-wracking!

Jaws came to the park as a juvenile and lived their for 40 years until he died in 2020.

The Komodos, Turtles, Iguana, and the Snake Show

Apart from crocs, they had a pretty cool star tortoise family, who roamed around lazily, munching on greens. Despite their slow speed, they looked kind of majestic. There was also an iguana, a recent addition to the park back then, which looked golden and super colorful. They also brought a few Komodo dragons, the largest living lizard species in the world.

The snake and reptile section was another highlight. They had an impressive collection of snakes, including some really deadly ones. But the most thrilling part was the live venom extraction demo! Imagine watching a professional extract venom from a snake right in front of your eyes—it’s both terrifying and fascinating at the same time.

Since the place is covered with a lot of trees and water bodies, a number of birds can also be spotted when strolling around the park.

Oh, and there was this fun section with a box that said “TO KNOW THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL IN THE WORLD, JUST OPEN THE DOOR”. Naturally, everyone would rush to open it… only to find a mirror inside. Yep, the message was clear—humans are the most dangerous creatures on Earth.

Whats there in the name?

Apart from Jaws reminding of the blockbuster Hollywood hit, the bank has also named two Thors – one saltwater crocodile and other one a Komodo dragon. Garfield– the underwater gharial, Jumbo– a west-African dwarf crocodile, Allie the Alligator and Smaug the Komodo dragon inspired from Lord of the Rings.

Crocodile Adoption

The Crocodile Bank also ran an adoption program where you could sponsor a croc, a snake, or a turtle for a month or a year. The money went towards their food and care, and in return, you got a certificate saying you were now a proud “zoo parent” of a crocodile! Sounds fun, right?

That One Time the Crocs Went Crazy

Now, on most of my visits, the crocs were their usual lazy selves, barely moving an inch all day. But once—just once—I saw chaos. 

It was during one of the feeding sessions when suddenly, out of nowhere, all the crocodiles started moving at once. It was like a stampede—mud flying everywhere, crocs splashing into the water, some trying to climb over others. I had never seen them so hyperactive before! For a moment, I thought one of them was going to escape. But nope, they just wanted food.

It was hands down the most thrilling moment I had ever witnessed at the Crocodile Bank.

The Night Safari – The One That I Missed

One thing I never got around to experiencing but definitely wanted to was their Night Safari. This is where they give you a torch and let you walk around the park in complete darkness. I can only imagine how unusual and exciting it must be to see crocs lurking in the shadows at night. Just imagining about focusing on those deadly eyes during the night, send chills down my spine! Unfortunately, I moved out of Chennai in 2017, so this remains one of my biggest regrets. If I ever get the chance to visit again, this is first on my list!

Final Thoughts: Why I Still Think About This Place

Even though I moved out of Chennai years ago, the memories of the Crocodile Bank remain fresh in my mind. It was one of those places that I kept going back to—not because it changed, but because it always had something new to offer- lazy yet terrifying crocodiles or the snake venom extraction offering exciting vibes every time. 

It’s fun, educational, and a little bit wild—just the way I liked it. So, if you ever find yourself in Chennai, go visit this place! And if you’ve been there already, tell me in the comments—what was your favorite part?

P.S.: For more information on the MCBT, may visit the following links:

• The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust – Official Facebook Page
• The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust – Official Website – www.madrascrocodilebank.org
• Croc on: 42 years later, Madras Crocodile Bank is an ocean of cool reptiles
• JAWS : One of the largest saltwater crocodiles in the world – A YouTube video