The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust (MCBT) in Chennai has marked 50 years of reptile conservation. Founded by Romulus 'Rom' Whitaker and Zai Whitaker to protect crocodiles and other reptiles, the 8.5-acre centre is home to more than 400 crocodiles, including 47 gharials, besides turtles, snakes and lizards. It runs captive breeding, research, reptile education and snake-bite mitigation programmes, and supports initiatives such as the Andaman and Nicobar Environmental Team (ANET) and the Irula Snake Catchers' Industrial Cooperative Society.