Exhibits
The bank is home to 14 species of the 23 crocodilian species living across the world, two of which are listed by the IUCN as critically endangered and three more as threatened. The 14 crocodile species available in the bank are mugger (Crocodylus palustris), salt-water crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), tomistoma (Tomistoma schlegelii), American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus Moreletii), spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus), West African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis), Australian fresh water crocodile (Crocodylus Johnsoni), African slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus), dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus), Yacare caiman (Caiman yacare), Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) and the endangered Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis). The bank currently houses over 2,400 crocodiles and also many species of turtles, snakes, and lizards which are viewable by the public. The bank houses 12 endangered species of turtles and tortoises and 5 species of snakes, including king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), water monitors (Varanus salvator salvator), two species of pythons, and albino cobras. Of the 5,000 reptiles bred at the Bank, 3,000 represent the native Indian species Crocodylus palustris, known as muggers. One of the biggest attractions of the park is a fierce salt-water crocodile known as Jaws III. This species, believed to be the biggest in southern Asia, is 17 feet (5.2 m) long and weighs over a ton. The bank is also going to get four new species of crocodiles. These are black caimans, Smooth-fronted caimans, Cuban crocodiles and Broad-snouted caimans. Anacondas will also appear at the bank.
Reptile stock at the CrocBank as on 1 April 2011 is as follows:
| Common name (Species) | Total |
|---|---|
| Crocodilians | |
| Mugger or marsh crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) | 2115 |
| Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) | 12 |
| Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) | 55 |
| Common caiman (Caiman crocodylus) | 56 |
| Yacare caiman (Caiman yacare) | 3 |
| Dwarf Caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus) | 13 |
| American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) | 2 |
| Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) | 9 |
| Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) | 7 |
| African slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus) | 6 |
| West-African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) | 3 |
| Morelett's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletti) | 13 |
| False gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii) | 2 |
| Australian fresh-water crocodile (Crocodylus johnsoni) | 1 |
| Total | 2302 |
| Freshwater turtles | |
| Indian soft shelled turtle (Nilssonia gangetica) | 9 |
| Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata) | 13 |
| River terrapin (Batagur baska) | 2 |
| Red-crowned roof turtle (Batagur kachuga) | 72 |
| Indian roofed turtle (Pangshura tecta) | 2 |
| Indian roofed turtle (Pangshura tecta circumdata) | 17 |
| Crowned river turtle (Hardella thurjii) | 2 |
| Indian Start tortoise (Geochelone elegans) | 8 |
| Travancore tortoise (Indotestudo travancorica) | 23 |
| Aldabra Giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) | 4 |
| Total | 152 |
| Snakes | |
| Indian rock python (Python molurus) | 26 |
| Reticulated python (Python reticulatus) | 1 |
| Spectacled cobra (Albino) (Naja naja) | 1 |
| Total | 28 |
| Lizards | |
| Caiman Lizard (Dracena guanensis) | 1 |
| Total | 1 |
| Total specimens | 2483 |
The bank plans to introduce a night safari between 7 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The visitors can observe the crocodiles during the night time, splashing water, jaw-slapping or reclaiming territories. They will be taught counting crocs in the night by counting the bright eye shines. The centre also plans to have on display the Aldabras tortoises from the islands of Seychelles.
Read more about this topic: Madras Crocodile Bank Trust
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