Madras Crocodile Bank Trust

The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology, on the outskirts of Chennai, was set up in 1976 by the naturalists Romulus and Zai Whitaker to protect endangered reptiles, crocodiles above all. It keeps more than 2,500 crocodiles, alligators and other reptiles from 23 species, along with venomous and harmless snakes, some of them critically endangered. Its best-known resident is Jaws III, a saltwater crocodile of nearly a tonne and about 16 feet, counted as the largest captive crocodile in India.

The trust has bred several species and returned them to the wild, and works with the Irula community, who catch snakes so their venom can be taken for antivenom before the snakes are freed. Visitors can attend herpetology talks, stay overnight or spend a day as a keeper. It has won the Whitley Award.