Research within MCBT and in the field has covered a wide range of herpetological topics since 1976 and has resulted in over 600 scientific publications (a list of these are included in the appendices).
A main strength of the facility is that it functions as a large outdoor laboratory, in which over 2,400 reptiles of different taxa live and breed. MCBT houses 14 species of crocodilians, over 18 species of freshwater turtles and tortoises, water monitor lizards and four species of snakes including the king cobras. Select enclosures are grided and can be wired to record all the basic environmental parameters to facilitate studies on the biology of the reptiles here. The animals quickly habituate to the presence of visitors, so the facility affords an excellent opportunity to observe and document behavior and social interactions at close range, many of which are rarely, if ever, seen in the wild.
Research focusing on conservation of endangered species and groups of herpetofauna has been conducted at MCBT since its inception. Both in captivity and in the wild, in north and south India, as well as in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In addition to hosting numerous international meetings of the IUCN Specialist Groups dealing with reptiles, the Crocodile Bank has served as a regional source of status information for the World Conservation Monitoring Centre and since 1978 has hosted numerous local and international specialists.
Freshwater turtle and tortoises research started in the early 1981, when Prof Edward Moll of Eastern Illinois University accepted an Indo-American Fellowship for a year long sabbatical, and based his studies and surveys conducted throughout India, at MCBT; several students served as research assistants/ scholars, mainly J. Vijaya and S. Bhaskar, on the project and ultimately pursued further studies on reptiles. Dr. J. G. Frazier, Smithsonian, and Dr. Michael Ewert, Indiana University were collaborators on continuing turtle reproduction studies. Maduri Ramesh continued studies on the Travancore tortoise in captivity and in the wild. MCBT biologists have studied freshwater turtles in the Chambal River in Uttar Pradesh on a WWF- India grant. Later studies and surveys were conducted by Dr. Indraneil Das in north east India and West Bengal. A ten year project titled “Conservation of freshwater turtles and tortoises of India” was initiated during 2004 in collaboration with state forest departments. The project covers states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and plans are underway to extend it to Rajasthan, Orissa, West Bengal and the north eastern states.
Since 1976 crocodilian research has always been a priority and in 1984, a major project on the reproductive biology of the mugger crocodile was initiated by Dr. J.W. Lang, University of North Dakota, in collaboration with MCBT. Dr. Lang was a Guest Scientist at Madras Christian College, and lectured in the MCC’s Department of Zoology. Funds for this project augmented the research infrastructure at MCBT. In particular, a well-equipped laboratory was established and collaboration started with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology. This project was continued every year between 1984 and 1994 by Harry Andrews and Dr Lang made periodic visits to supervise developments. The main focus was reptile reproduction, egg incubation, and temperature-dependent sex determination. A three- year survey and study on the biology and conservation of the mugger crocodile in the wild was also carried out and imitated by Smita Satheesh. A field station was established on the Moyar River near Bhavanisagar in south India.
Harry Andrews, research assistants R. Arumugam and M. Anandhanarayan were involved in the study of one of the last viable populations of mugger in a completely wild natural habitat in south India. Studies and surveys have been continued by Ravi Kailas in other parts of the state. The reproductive, egg incubation, and temperature-dependent sex determination studies in crocodilians are be continued by Harry Andrews.
Lizard studies, on breeding biology and growth, particularly on the larger monitor lizards, have been conducted since 1987 by Harry Andrews in collaboration with researchers from the United Kingdom and Germany. MCBT researcher Jayshree Ratnam continued the monitor behavioral studies and joined Syracuse University, USA, for her Ph.D.
Amphibian studies were conducted in MCBT from 1989-1991 by Dr. Indraneil Das, Scientific Officer at MCBT, leading to a doctoral degree at Oxford University. The topic of research was the world’s only leaf-eating frog, Rana hexadactyla. (This was featured in BBC Wildlife Magazine in 1996).
Again with the encouragement of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, the Crocodile Bank undertook a study on the captive breeding and behavior of the four common venomous snakes of India and a similar study on pythons and king cobras, which are threatened species. Romulus Whitaker conceived the project and Farida Tampal carried out the field and lab work along with students of herpetology.
In addition, MCBT has served as a regional service centre for South Asian herpetological studies. Indian and foreign scientists have frequently visit to utilize the facilities, especially the library and resource centre.
In 1990 the MCBT newsletter was transformed into a scientific journal, with an international editorial board and a rigorous peer- reviewed procedure for the acceptance of technical papers. This method has substantially enhanced international scientific awareness of MCBT as a regional and international herpetological centre and led to additional professional scientific ties within India as well as throughout the world.
A Scientific Committee consisting of scientists and trustees was instituted in 1992 and is charged with directing and coordinating research. Immediate future plans include the addition of a Research Scientist to conduct herpetological research as well as train and advise students.
In 1992, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Environmental Team (ANET), a division of the MCBT, was constituted. A base was set up by Harry Andrews in South Andaman for herpetological and other ecological studies in these islands. Staff was hired and a grant enabled construction of a well- equipped base for conservation, research, and education. Meanwhile, sea turtle expert Satish Bhaskar was on surveys and studying turtles in these islands since 1977. In 1993, Harry Andrews carried out crocodile, wetlands and remote area sensing surveys. Herpetological surveys by Indraneil Das led to the discovery of eight species and several new records from the Islands. Extensive studies on sea snakes, the flora, marine turtles, herpetofauna biogeography, bats, resource use, land use, rain water harvesting and coral reef socio economics have been undertaken. Other activities include protected area management planning; besides ecologically suitable management planning is being carried out and recommendations made. ANET has an ongoing environment education programme and has helped produce a teacher- training manual in English and Hindi for the schools in the islands. ANET has written the ‘Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan’ and the ‘State of Environment’ for the Islands, besides an island geography book for the school in the islands is in preparation.
CONSULTATION
Madras Crocodile Bank staff are consulted on reptile management and conservation issues by a wide range of organisations including: FAO, WWF, IUCH, NGS, Indian state forest departments, the governments of Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bhutan, Brunei, Sri Lanka, India and Nepal.
Advice and help has been given regarding captive maintenance of reptiles, status surveys in the wild, setting up crocodile breeding centers, trapping nuisance crocodiles, conservation and management plans, research projects and filming/photography of reptiles.
CONSERVATION
The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, the first crocodile conservation breeding centre in Asia, was established to conserve the three Indian crocodilians and imitate programmes for the conservation and propagation of other species of endangered reptiles. Over the years, 1500 crocodiles and several hundred eggs have been supplied to various State Forest Departments for restocking in the wild, for setting up of breeding facilities in other states in India and neighboring countries. Besides several species of crocodiles, monitor lizards and king cobras have been supplied to several zoos in India and abroad. MCBT researches have also conducted crocodile surveys for states in India and other countries.
MCBT started the first sea turtle surveys and conservation programme in India, including a sea turtle hatchery. Its reports and recommendations have played a major role in the conservation of Indian reptiles. This is now being continued with a hatchery at the crocodile Bank beach and a mobile exhibition each week during the nesting season.
India is home to 27 species of turtles and tortoises, some of them which are extremely endangered. A ten year project titled “Conservation of freshwater turtles and tortoises of India” was initiated during 2004 in collaboration with several state forest departments. The project will cover the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, West Bengal and the north eastern states. The project aims at assessing the current distribution and population status of turtles, preparing detailed species and habitats status maps, setting up captive gene pools, restocking, conducting education and awareness programmes and trade monitoring. The work has started in the state of UP and MP in October 2004 with surveys of various wetlands and habitats for presence of species. India is also home to the critically endangered Gharial. Assessment on status of the species in the wild is being conducted in the Northern states, besides coordinating all gharail releases into the wild in UP and MP.
