Romulus Whitaker

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Romulus Whitaker is a herpetologist, wildlife conservationist and founder of the Madras Snake Park, The Andaman and Nicobar Environment Trust (ANET), and the Madras Crocodile Bank.

[edit] Work in India

Whitaker was the founder director of the Snake Park, Guindy, Chennai. The park was conceived to rehabilitate the Irula tribe who are known for their expertise in catching snakes. The tribals were left jobless after the ban of snake trading. Whitaker helped the Irula tribe to get involved in extracting snake venom used for the production of antivenom drugs. Currently he is associated with the Center for Herpetology, popularly known as the Madras Crocodile Bank. The Madras Crocodile Bank is actively involved in a crocodile breeding program.

His wildlife documentary King Cobra made for National Geographic won him an Emmy award. He has also authored several books on reptiles , more specifically on snakes, and has recently co-authored a comprehensive field guide, titled "Snakes of India - The Field Guide" on the Snakes of India published till date.

Whitaker is currently coordinating an effort to save the Gharial (Gavialus gangeticus); a species on the brink of extinction with less than 250 individuals left in Indian waters.

In February 2007, he was the subject of a critically-acclaimed documentary produced by PBS, under their "Nature" banner, on "supersized" crocodiles and alligators, which was filmed in India, East Africa and Australia.