King Cobra
Why it Matters?
A king cobra was brought to Bhopal’s Van Vihar Zoo from Karnataka’s Mangalore Zoo in exchange for a tiger died in its enclosure on June 18.
What You Should Know?
King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the longest venomous snake in the world.
It has a neurotoxic venom that causes muscle paralysis by blocking nerve signals.
It is oviparous and the only snake that builds and guards its nest until hatching.
Its venom is used to produce pain relievers like Cobroxin and Nyloxin.
It is included in the Big Four snakes responsible for most snakebite deaths in India (with Russell’s viper, saw-scaled viper, and common krait).
It is cannibalistic, preying primarily on other snakes such as rat snakes, dhamans, and other cobras.
It is diurnal, meaning it is active during the day.
It is found in rainforests, bamboo thickets, mangroves, riversides, and grasslands across India, southern China, and Southeast Asia.
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable
CITES Status: CITES Appendix II
Wildlife Protection Act (1972): Schedule II