NDTV (New Delhi, India) 23 July 05 Crocodile bank boasts of large gene pool
Mahabalipuram: The crocodile bank outside Chennai is the country's largest gene pool for crocodiles.
The bank has made sure that none of its 2,480 inmates are inbred, in other words are not related to each other.
The gene pool ensures that pure strains of crocodilians are bred in captivity before being released into the wild.
"Gene pool means we have pure strains of crocodiles. So if anything happens in the wild, we should be able to restock pure strains of crocodiles," says Harry Andrews, Madras Crocodile Bank.
Maintaining a gene pool takes time, the understanding of breeding techniques and wildlife management.
Herpetologists are now into field research to determine the exact number of species that need to be re-stocked into the wild.
"The best example is the Indian gharial. In the early 70s, there were less than 100, now there are 2,000 in the wild," adds Andrews.
As the environment around us continues to dwindle and be destroyed, the importance of gene pool banks cannot be ignored.
This is the world's first international breeding centre for crocodiles and the country's largest gene pool. And with 14 pure strains being looked after here, the crocodile bank is really living upto the reputation it has gathered over the years.
Crocodile bank boasts of large gene pool