Nature Camps
Besides being India’s largest reptile bank, the CrocBank has its own ecosystem supporting its share of free ranging four species of non-venomous snakes, three lizards, four geckos, frogs and toads, butterflies and moths, three species of bats and other small mammals, over 52 species of birds and 100s of insects inhabit the CrocBank as their own. We have a perfect location as a unique forest ecosystem, with a clean wide beach and the sea, for conducting nature camps. Day camps and overnight camps are conducted throughout the year for the school children. These camps offer unique experiences with a whole plethora of activities during overnight camps. Bat watching and mist netting, bird watching, star gazing, nature trail with an Irula family, snake hunts, visit to a mystical sacred grove, croc catching, snake handling, creative workshops, puppeteering, painting, using natural materials like mud, charcoal and plant extracts, are some of the activities for young campers.

The CrocBank is also used as a training ground for school and college students to study inventories, different sampling methods and behavior of different species.

‘Friends of the CrocBank Club’

As part of Madras Croc Bank’s on-going Environmental Education Programme, the Friends of the Croc Bank Club was launched at the same time NatureQuest was. Members of this Club contributing to Croc Bank’s conservation efforts by volunteering for the various activities. Members are entitled to free entry into Madras Crocodile Bank, a t-shirt, stickers, an ID card, free subscriptions to Croc Bank newsletters, free entry to some of the activities of Nature Quest and discounts on camps and programmes conducted at the Croc Bank. Separate programmers are also conducted for the members at the Crocodile Bank and are taken on turtle walks, wildlife sanctuaries, bird watching, trekking and other outdoor activities.

LOCAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION

• The Crocodile Bank is the site of the Irula Snake Catchers’ Cooperative Society, which is an adivasi self-help project and supplies all of India’s snake and scorpion venom needed for the production of anti-venom, for medical use and research.
• MCBT personnel also initiated the Irula Tribal Women’s Welfare Society, which is primarily a society for reforestation of wastelands and income generation projects for Irula women.
• Collaborations with other environment organizations, involving school children every year in education and some practical work at the Crocodile Bank and in the field. 

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