Romulus Whitaker

Romulus Whitaker

Indian Herpetologist, Wildlife Conservationist and Founder of the Madras Snake Park, The Andaman and Nicobar Environment Trust (ANET), and the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust.

Bio

Reptilian Journey An Indian – American upbringing, a stint at the Vietnam War, crocodiles, snakes, half wild pig named Luppy and an emu named Neelakantan, Herpetologist, Conservationist, Padma Shri Awardee Romulus Whitaker is a man who intrigues, awes and inspires! He set up the Madras Snake Park and with Zai Whitaker, the Madras Crocodile Bank – now India’s premier research centre for herpetology. In 1978, Rom helped his tribal snake-catcher friends set up the Irula Snake-catchers Cooperative Society to milk snakes for venom to produce antivenom serum, saving thousands of snakebite victims all over India. Studying King Cobras has become a driving force ostensibly to understand the snake’s ecology and conservation status but equally to indulge in what he likes doing the most – wandering in the forest.