Bang in the middle of the city, the Chennai Snake Park is one of the first zoos to start in the city. Established by renowned herpetologist (reptile guy) and now Padma Shri Award winner Romulus Whittaker in the 70’s, the park houses 39 species of reptiles, including endangered and rare species like the famous Indian Gharial (a crocodile with thin jaws and a pot on its mouth) and the longest python species in the world, the reticulated python. As the name suggests, there are quite a few snakes here, and the park routinely conducts informative shows about all of these animals to help break the myths surrounding them.