Madras Crocodile Bank Trust/Centre For Herpetology

What Madras Crocodile Bank Trust/Centre For Herpetology does

The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology is a non-governmental, non-profit trust established in 1976 in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu by Romulus Whitaker and Zai Whitaker to halt the decline of India's crocodilian populations. Today it operates an 8.5-acre reptile zoo on the East Coast Road near Chennai that is home to 15 of the world's 25 crocodilian species plus 33 other reptile species, and welcomes approximately 500,000 visitors each year. The trust runs three field stations (the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station in the Western Ghats, the Gharial Ecology Project on the Chambal River, and, until 2019, the Andaman & Nicobar Environmental Team since handed to Dakshin Foundation), a captive-breeding program for Critically Endangered species (gharial since 1989, Batagur kachuga first bred in captivity in 2004, Batagur baska successfully bred since 2016), the Irular Snake Catchers' Cooperative and the Irular Tribe Women's Welfare Society, and a national snakebite-mitigation program. It does not have publicly disclosed revenue; revenue is intentionally not the primary objective for a trust.

The core products and underlying technology span physical zoo operations, captive breeding protocols, e-commerce, and a growing public-health data layer. Visitor-facing products include the reptile park, guided tours (Rs. 400), and a VR experience (Rs. 40) on weekends and public holidays. The Croc Shop online merchandise store sells books, apparel, soft toys, and accessories priced Rs. 30-699 via Razorpay. A Reptile Adoption Program offers annual subscriptions from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 45,000 per animal. The Snakebite Mitigation program delivers community workshops in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, and Gujarati, a Tamil Nadu hospital snakebite registry built with the state Health Department, an Android app mapping snake occurrences, hospitals, and rescuers in collaboration with indiansnakes.org, and venom-variation research with the Evolutionary Venomics Lab at IISc. Field-research stations use GPS satellite radio telemetry (Rs. 1,50,000 per tag) for gharial and king cobra tracking.

The revenue model is a hybrid of earned and contributed income across seven streams: zoo admissions (Rs. 110 adult, Rs. 50 child), guided tours and VR experiences, Croc Shop merchandise, reptile adoption subscriptions, donations (Rs. 2,500 gharial tracking through Rs. 10,000 one-day ARRS operations, plus snakebite-mitigation giving via Instamojo), volunteer/docent programs, and zoo exchange of surplus animals to 13 Indian zoos and to research centres in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Israel, Singapore, Czech Republic, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Corporate financial partners include Google, Oracle, Infosys Foundation, USV Private Limited, Deshpande Foundation, Srinivasan Services Trust, and United Way of Chennai. Customer segments span leisure visitors, school and college groups, rural snakebite-affected communities, individual and corporate conservation adopters, and zoological / research institutions receiving animals or venom supply (for example Haffkine Institute).

Name

Madras Crocodile Bank Trust/Centre For Herpetology

Legal name

Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology

Website

https://madrascrocodilebank.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Madras Crocodile Bank Trust is a non-profit reptile zoo and conservation centre in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, housing 15 crocodilian species and serving ~500,000 visitors annually. It funds captive breeding, field research, and a national snakebite mitigation program via tickets, merchandise, adoption subscriptions, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation and Zoo Operations

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Other Animal Production (1129)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE), Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC), Reptile & Amphibian Farming (Alligators, Frogs) (AFAEAIAJ)

Keywords

• Reptile conservation zoo
• Captive breeding endangered species
• Snakebite mitigation programs
• Herpetology research station
• Wildlife conservation education

Headquarters

HQ city

Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram)

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Zoo Admissions and Ticket Sales: Revenue from adult, child, guided tour, and VR experience tickets for the reptile park, which sees approximately 500,000 visitors per year.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from individuals and organisations supporting conservation programs including snakebite mitigation, gharial tracking, ARRS operations, and general zoo upkeep. Accepts donations in multiple currencies.
3. Croc Shop Online Merchandise: Sale of reptile-themed merchandise including books, t-shirts, hats, pens, soft toys, keychains, and stuffed animals via the Croc Shop e-commerce platform. Proceeds support feeding of animals.
4. Reptile Adoption and Sponsorship: Annual adoption program for reptiles including turtles, tortoises, snakes, lizards, and crocodiles. Adoption costs cover feed, maintenance, vet care, and signage. Adopters receive certificate, birth certificate, free entry passes, and social media shout-outs.
5. Zoo Exchange and Animal Supply: Surplus animals donated to legitimate organisations for conservation causes. Animals supplied for restocking programs throughout India and donated to research centres in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Israel, Singapore, Czech Republic, Denmark, Netherlands, and thirteen Indian zoos.
6. Snakebite Mitigation Donations: Dedicated fund for snakebite mitigation work, accepting donations specifically targeted at reducing snakebite incidence and mortality in rural India.
7. Volunteer and Docent Program Fees: Engagement programs requiring commitment from participants, generating modest revenue while building conservation awareness.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology operates an 8.5-acre reptile zoo near Chennai housing 15 crocodilian species and 33 other reptile species, attracting close to 500,000 visitors per year. Beyond the zoo, the trust runs ex-situ captive breeding programs for critically endangered species, in-situ field conservation stations (Western Ghats king cobra research, Chambal River gharial conservation), a national snakebite mitigation program with the Tamil Nadu Health Department and ICMR, and an online merchandise store (Croc Shop) whose proceeds support animal care and conservation.

Product overview

The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology operates as a conservation organization with multiple interconnected products and services. The core offering is the Reptile Park near Chennai (8.5 acres, 15 crocodilian species, 33+ other reptile species), which attracts approximately 500,000 visitors annually. Supporting the conservation mission are the Croc Shop (online merchandise store selling books, apparel, toys), Reptile Adoption Program (for individuals/families/schools/corporations), and visitor experiences (Guided Tours, VR Experience). Field conservation is delivered through Ex-Situ Captive Breeding, the Snake Conservation and Snakebite Mitigation program, and three field stations: Agumbe Rainforest Research Station (Western Ghats), Gharial Ecology Project (Chambal River), and Andaman & Nicobar Environmental Team. Community engagement products include Volunteer and Docent Programs, Zoo Exchange, and the Irular Snake Catchers Cooperative. The portfolio also includes annual reports and film-making permit services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Croc Shop: The online merchandise store of Madras Crocodile Bank selling reptile-themed books, apparel, accessories, artifacts, and stuffed toys.

Products and services

• Madras Crocodile Bank Reptile Park An 8.5-acre reptile zoo near Chennai, Southern India, home to 15 crocodilian species (out of 25 in the world; 3 IUCN Critically Endangered, 3 threatened) and 33 other reptile species. The park attracts close to 500,000 visitors per year and serves as the public face of MCBT's conservation mission, with tickets for adults, children, guided tours, and VR experiences.
• Croc Shop (Online Merchandise Store) Online e-commerce merchandise store selling reptile-themed books (Snakeman, Cobra in my Kitchen, Scaling Up), T-shirts, kids clothing, branded merchandise, soft toys, keychains, and accessories. Proceeds support conservation efforts and animal feeding; accepts Razorpay payments and ships via reputed couriers throughout India.
• Reptile Adoption Program Annual sponsorship program allowing individuals, families, schools, and corporations to adopt reptiles. Adoption fees cover feed, maintenance, vet care, and signage; adopters receive a certificate, birth certificate, four free entry passes, and social media recognition. Available animals include crocodilians, snakes, lizards, turtles, and tortoises (e.g., Whitaker's Sand Boa Baby, Dwarf Caiman, Komodo Dragon).
• Snake Conservation and Snakebite Mitigation Program Multi-sphere initiative combining community education workshops, multilingual educational materials (Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati), an Android snake occurrence and rescuer mapping app developed with indiansnakes.org, a hospital-level snakebite registry with the Tamil Nadu Health Department, and venom variation research in collaboration with the Evolutionary Venomics Lab at IISc and The Gerry Martin Project.
• Guided Zoo Tours and Virtual Reality Reptile Experience Expert-led guided zoo tours priced at Rs. 400 per person plus a separate Rs. 40 per person immersive VR experience showing reptiles in their natural habitats, available on weekends and public holidays. Combined with the underlying Croc Bank zoo admission, these add-on experiences deepen educational engagement for visitors.
• Volunteer Program Conservation volunteer engagement program for individuals, requiring a minimum 2-week to maximum 1-month commitment, with skill utilization and training in conservation techniques. Participants undergo a Skype interview and require a week-long notification period before joining.
• Docent Program Long-term structured education program teaching conservation, research, and education skills to local wildlife community members, distinct from short-term volunteering as a sustained engagement initiative at the zoo.
• Ex-Situ Captive Breeding Program In-house captive breeding program for endangered crocodilians and chelonians, with state-of-the-art veterinary facilities and an on-site vet. Foundation stock is supplied to restocking programs throughout India and to international research centres, supporting both species recovery and zoo exchange objectives.
• Agumbe Rainforest Research Station (ARRS) Field research station in the Western Ghats established in 2005, dedicated to King Cobra telemetry, rainforest ecology, and human-snake conflict resolution research; operates under a field director with monthly budget approximately Rs. 3,00,000.
• Gharial Ecology Project (GEP) / Gharial Conservation Alliance Conservation initiative along the Chambal River dedicated to saving the critically endangered gharial, led by a group of crocodile experts in which MCBT played a founding role; involves radio-tagging and ongoing monitoring of gharial and mugger populations, with Dr Jeffery Lang (associated with MCBT since the 1980s) leading intensive studies.
• Zoo Exchange Program Program donating surplus animals to legitimate conservation organisations for restocking programs throughout India and international research centres in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Israel, Singapore, Czech Republic, Denmark, Netherlands, and thirteen Indian zoos.
• Zoo Admission Tickets Standalone admission ticket products sold at the reptile zoo: Adult Ticket at Rs. 110 per adult for full zoo access and Child Ticket at Rs. 50 per child (ages 3-12). These are the base consumer-facing tickets that gate access to all exhibits and attractions on site.
• Irular Snake Catchers Cooperative (ISCICS) and Irular Tribe Women's Welfare Society (ITWWS) Community-based industrial cooperative within the Croc Bank campus where licensed Irular snake catchers supply snakes for venom extraction (released back into the wild after three extractions); venom is freeze-dried and sold to antivenom-producing laboratories including Haffkine Institute. The companion ITWWS focuses on herbal and medicinal knowledge documentation, livelihood development, afforestation, and social and economic empowerment of Irular women.
• Education and School Outreach Programs School field trips and community education workshops offered to schools, colleges, and Forest Department staff across India, covering reptile biology, conservation, and snakebite prevention. Programs are priced at INR 15,000 per school program reaching 200+ children and INR 40,000 for Forest Department capacity building covering 20+ staff.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully breeds gharials since 1989, Batagur kachuga (first ever in captivity globally in 2004), and Batagur baska (bred successfully in 2016 and annually since)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dakshin FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Dakshin Foundation had been a partner with the Croc Bank in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands for a decade before taking over full management of ANET in 2019. ANET was successfully transitioned to this conservation NGO for continued operations.
• Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Indian Institute of SciencecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2017Collaboration to investigate venom variation across geographic regions and snake species, and to test the efficacy of antivenom against these venoms. This research supports snakebite treatment improvement across India.
• The Gerry Martin ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partner in venom research collaboration alongside Evolutionary Venomics Lab at IISc, focusing on antivenom efficacy testing and snakebite mitigation.
• indiansnakes.orgcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2017Collaborated to develop an Android application that maps occurrence of snakes, hospital locations, and availability of snake rescuers. The app provides real-time data for snakebite response and epidemiological tracking.
• Gharial Conservation Alliance / Gharial Ecology Project (GEP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007The Croc Bank played a lead role in forming this group of crocodile experts dedicated to saving the critically endangered gharial on the Chambal River. Dr Jeffery Lang, a world-renowned crocodile biologist associated with the Croc Bank since the 1980s, leads intensive ongoing studies. Radio-tagged gharial and mugger are monitored.
• Agumbe Rainforest Research Station (ARRS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Research base established in 2005 in the heart of King Cobra country in the Western Ghats. Conducts king cobra telemetry studies, rainforest ecology research, human-snake conflict resolution, and environmental education. Monthly operational budget approximately Rs. 3,00,000.
• Andaman & Nicobar Environmental Team (ANET)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989Established in 1989 on five acres of land in Wandoor on the southern tip of South Andaman island. Conducted herp surveys, leatherback nesting studies, invasive species research, and ecological effects of fishing industry studies. In 2019, ANET was handed over to Dakshin Foundation (Dakshin) for ongoing management, representing a successful conservation capacity transfer.
• National Health Mission, Tamil NaducoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership towards collection of snakebite data and establishing a snakebite registry for Tamil Nadu state, a project intended for replication nationwide.
• Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with ICMR, Ministry of Health and Department of Biotechnology to standardise snakebite treatment protocol, guarantee adequate supply of free antivenom to rural poor, train rural clinicians, add snakebite to MBBS syllabus, and make it a notifiable disease.
• Department of Biotechnology, Government of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in inter-ministerial efforts to improve snakebite treatment across India including protocol standardisation, antivenom supply, and clinician training.
• Health Department, Government of Tamil NaducoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiated a snakebite registry for hospitals across Tamil Nadu and assisting with streamlining the data collection methodology. Community-level surveys initiated in multiple districts.
• Zoo ViennacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2012, Zoo Vienna supplied an adult male Batagur baska (Northern River Terrapin) to the Croc Bank. This male was introduced to two female B. baska at the Croc Bank, and successful breeding was achieved in 2016, with continued annual breeding since.
• Prague ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2007, Prague Zoo donated four Aldabra Giant Tortoises to the Croc Bank. The largest male weighs 87 kg.
• Bronx Zoo, New YorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmaug, the Komodo Dragon, was acquired from the Bronx Zoo in New York in 2016.
• Haffkine InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnder licenses from the Wildlife Department, the Irular Snake Catchers' Cooperative supplies snakes from which venom is extracted and freeze-dried, then sold to antivenom-producing laboratories including Haffkine Institute. Snakes are released back into the wild after three extractions.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bronx Zoo (Wildlife Conservation Society): One of the world's largest urban zoos with deep field conservation programs, species survival plans, and international animal exchange. Comparable in captive breeding, conservation research, and global zoo exchange activity (MCBT acquired a Komodo from Bronx Zoo in 2016).
• Zoo Vienna (Tiergarten Schönbrunn): Oldest zoo in the world with globally recognized captive breeding programs. Directly relevant as a partner that supplied MCBT with B. baska in 2012 leading to successful captive breeding in 2016.
• Singapore Zoo (Mandai Wildlife Group): Large tropical zoological park with strong captive breeding and education programs. Directly comparable to MCBT as a ticketed wildlife attraction combining species conservation, education, and breeding in a South/Southeast Asian context.
• Australia Zoo: Family-founded wildlife park combining zoo operations, captive breeding, education, and on-site merchandise/adoption programs. Closely parallels MCBT's founder-led model and mixed conservation-tourism revenue approach.
• Smithsonian's National Zoo: Major zoological institution combining public exhibits, conservation research, breeding programs, and government-linked policy influence. Comparable scale of operations, scientific output, and species survival plan participation.

Broad incumbents

• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: Global leader in zoo-based conservation with massive endowment, international field programs, and a frozen zoo. Comparable in research depth and species recovery programs but at a vastly larger scale.
• Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS): International conservation organization operating zoos plus field conservation programs across multiple continents. Comparable in combining zoo operations with global species conservation, but with far broader geographic and programmatic scope.

Emerging players

• Dakshin Foundation: India-based conservation NGO that took over management of MCBT's Andaman field station (ANET) in 2019. Directly comparable as a peer Indian conservation organization with overlapping species and habitat focus.
• The Gerry Martin Project: India-based reptile conservation organization with direct collaboration with MCBT on venom research and snakebite mitigation. Comparable mission around Indian reptile conservation, public education, and snake-human conflict resolution.

Regional players

• National Zoological Park (Delhi): India's premier government-run zoo and a participant in the MCBT zoo exchange program. Comparable as a domestic peer in captive breeding, public education, and species recovery, but operated as a government entity rather than a non-profit trust.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mcbt_youtube
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/madras-crocodile-bank-trust-centre-for-herpetology

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Madras Crocodile Bank Trust/Centre For Herpetology