Spotting the king cobra – the longest venomous snake known – is something of a rarity today, given its dwindling population. In fact, nobody has ever managed to spot the reptile in the whole of the Telangana region.
Recently, members of the Asian Wildlife Foundation (AWIFO) not only located a spotted a king cobra ( Ophiophagus hannah ), but also managed to capture its image. At the time of discovery, near G.M. Valasa village at Maredumilli in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district, the serpent was feasting on a rat snake.
Wildlife experts point out that the population of the snake is fast decreasing.
“There have been reports in the past that they were seen in Khammam, but these were yet to be verified. This is a rare species and it feeds on other snakes. Its known habitat is Godavari river basin,” says Ch. Srinivasulu, professor at Osmania University’s Zoology Department.
The species is threatened and protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
“The local Adivasi population kills them out of fear. Sometimes, they die due to forest fires and are often poached for their skin. These are the main reasons for dip in their numbers. Protecting this snake from extinction in this area is very important. There is a need to conduct awareness camps locally,” says AWIFO managing trustee Prabhu Podipireddy.
The king cobra is also unique for being the only snake that builds a nest. It can grow up to a length of 19 feet and usually hunts during the day.
Though they carry the ‘cobra’ name, the snake belongs to the genus Ophiophagus, and not Naja as in the case of the true cobra.
“It can be distinguished by unique chevron marks on its neck and body. A volunteer, M. Rambabu, had captured the image of the king cobra while it was feeding on a rat snake,” Mr. Prabhu said.
According to Dr. Srinivasulu, the typical habitat for the king cobra is close to rivers and streams in dense forests.
“The Godavari river basin, West Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam are places where these snakes have been spotted earlier. They prefer eating other snakes,” Dr. Srinivasulu said.
