Reptile Conservation and Education

There are several misconceptions about reptiles because of which there is a prevalent negative attitude towards this group of animals. There is a lack of even basic understanding of reptiles. This misunderstanding manifests in several ways. For example, even harmless non-venomous are killed because of misplaced fear. In addition, we lose about 50, 000 human lives to snakebites because people are unaware of how to avoid snakebites and the appropriate treatment for snakebite. Both humans as well as animals are the eventual losers simply because of lack of awareness. Lastly, with dwindling populations of reptiles, it is important to have a ‘bank’ of genetic resources so that species can be reintroduced into the wild.

At the Croc Bank, we get a captive audience of about 5 lakh visitors annually. This gives us an excellent opportunity to educate people on reptiles and how to live with them. We have 15 of the 23 species of crocodiles in the world. We also have charismatic species such as the Komodo Dragon. While charismatic species draws in people, the excellent information available on other species keep the visitors engaged. We also host talks and programs which extensively talk about how to avoid snakebite and the proper treatment. We also breed endangered species so that society has the option of releasing these animals in the wild when the situation suits them.

Historically, we have had phenomenal success in the conservation of Gharial, Muggers and Saltwater Crocodile. Populations of these three species have bounced back from the brink of extinction. We also have successfully bred critical endangered species such as Batagur baska and Batagur kachuga. Through our reptile education program we aim to build an educated community that is aware on how to exist with animals. This will not only help reptiles but also reduce the number of human deaths because of conflicts with animals.