tip of South Andaman Island to conduct research programs towards understanding of the diversity, distribution, and ecology of the islands' fauna and flora. In 2003, with the addition of turtles, lizards and snakes, the bank was renamed the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Center for Herpetology. The centre is one of the largest reptile zoos in the world. In 2020 Madras Crocodile Bank Trust faced financial crisis due to the unprecedented COVID-19 Pandemic lockdown. Organisation Campuses Main campus location and visitors The CrocBank is situated south of Chennai on the East Coast Road at Vadanemmeli near Thiruvidandhai, close to the Bay of Bengal, on the way to Mamallapuram. In 2010–2011, the CrocBank received 367,574 visitors, including 13,794 foreign visitors, with maximum number visiting in the month of January, when 53,763 people visited the zoological park. This includes 15,780 students and 1,854 teachers from 258 schools visiting the park. Field campuses The CrocBank runs two permanent and fully staffed field bases, viz., the Andaman and Nicobar Environmental Team and the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, and usually also has several field projects running. Objectives The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust's stated objectives are as follows: The conservation of nature and natural resources in the broadest sense, with particular focus on the conservation of herpetofauna and their habitats. To establish breeding, research, educational, dissemination and transfer centers, field stations, and other establishments focusing on ecological and environmental issues. Affiliations and partnerships A partial listing of the institutions that the CrocBank is affiliated with, including committees, membership, collaboration, consultation, editorial, and networking, as of 2011: The World Conservation Union (IUCN) IUCN/SSC Crocodile Specialist Group IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtles Specialist Group IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group IUCN/SSC Indian Subcontinent Reptile & Amphibian Group IUCN/SSC Captive Breeding Specialist Group IUCN/SSC Sustainable Use of Wild Species Group Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad World Congress of Herpetology World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)—India & International Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai Centre for Environment Education, Ahmedabad Chicago Herpetological Society, United States Fauna and Flora International, UK Development Alternatives, New Delhi Irula Tribal Women’s Welfare Society, Chennai Irula Snake Catchers’ Cooperative Society, Chennai International Association of Zoo Educators, UK Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust, UK Niligiri Wildlife Association, Ootacamand Central Zoo Authority of India, New Delhi Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore Madras Veterinary College, Chennai Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai Pondicherry