This
man-made Zoological Park situated on the outskirts of Chennai Metropolitan was
created out of the Reserved Forests of Vandalur.
The forests are of dry deciduous and dry evergreen scrub type.
It was in the year 1855 the first Zoo in India
was established in Chennai; later in 1979 shifted to this 510 Ha. Sprawling
complex.
This Zoological park is said to be one of the biggest in South East Asia.
The wild life population are exhibited in a large open moated island type enclosures with simulated natural environment.
More than 170 species of Mammals, Aviaries and reptiles are exhibited. Lion safari vehicle, Elephant Ride, Battery operated vehicles are some of the facilities available inside this park.
What you can expect to do at the Croc Bank:
Lend a hand to Animal Keepers by pen cleaning every morning between 7 am and 8.30 am !!!
Aid Reptile Handlers at the young reptiles section & Interact with visitors !!!
Help Animal Keepers with food preparation and feeding turtles and tortoises, Crocs & Snakes !!!
Learn reptile handling, management and husbandry from Croc Bank Staff with 25 years experience !!!
Work on short-term study projects on reptile behavior and habits. !!!
Croc nesting, egg laying, egg collection and incubation, processing and weighing
(February to April)
(May to September)
Catch up on the latest in Herp and other wildlife literature at the Croc Bank Library – one of the largest Herpetology Libraries in Asia !!! Help with filing, scanning and reference work.
* Spend a few days at the Croc Bank’s Research Base – ANET, in the pristine Andaman and Nicobar Islands by paying only local travel costs extra (airfare and other local transport) !!!
Help develop and enact conservation-based stories for the Croc Bank’s Puppet Theatre !!!
(during the turtle season from November to March)
Chip in to help with the Mobile Puppet Theatre and Sea Turtle Picture exhibition and Turtle Walks!!! (From November to March)
Watch demonstrations of Venom Extraction from wild snakes by expert Irula Tribals at the Irula Venom Extraction Centre (on the Croc Bank premises) -wild snakes are milked for their venom, which is used to make antivenin, after which the snakes are released back into the wild.
*Hunt for Herps and Herbs with an Irula friend !!!
*Stopover at the Irula Women's herbal medicine centre (about 40 km from the Croc bank).
Call on the nearby fishing village and watch/help the fishermen pull in their nets !!!
*Take a trip out to sea in a “catamaran”, a country-made boat (no more than a few logs bound together) !!!
Take time off to walk on the beach, swim and relax as well !!!
Or Bird Watch or a tree identification walk in the Croc Bank’s own eight and a half acres forest ecosystem.
* These activities are optional and available at a small extra cost
The Crocodile Bank is located about 35 km south of Chennai city on the scenic East Coast Road, and is about 14 km short of the temple town of Mamallapuram, a favourite tourist spot.
The accommodation at the Croc Bank is fairly basic, and non-air-conditioned. Please do bring plenty of insect repellant and comfortable cotton wear.
This park has a rainfall of about 1400mm average. Nearest airport is Chennai (18 kms), nearest Railway station is Vandalur (1 km.) and has a city bus terminal. This Zoological Park could be visited throughout the year. Authority: The Director, Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur, Chennai.
Contact us for all customized tourism reservations on the following mobile Nos ( 24 Hours) : +91-99428 99555, 98424 30308,99425 87000; Email id: info@pearlstourism.com
