After lioness, a cobra falls prey to heat at Vandalur

CHENNAI: An 18-year-old female Indian king cobra died a few days ago at the veterinary hospital in the zoo after being ill for more than a month. The 16-metre serpent was the longest female king cobra in captivity in the country. Zoo officials said that heat could be the reason for the death, suggesting that the air conditioning may have failed, due to power cuts. The death came barely a week after the demise of a 23-year-old lioness, Reena, in the zoo.

The average lifespan of a king cobra is 25 years. Besides the Snake Park at Guindy, Vandalur Zoo is the only other enclosure in the country to host the world's largest venomous snake, king cobra. In just a single bite, it can inject up to 6-7 ml of venom, enough to kill an elephant or 20 persons. The venom is also used to develop painkillers to treat arthritis in humans. The king cobra is worshipped by Hindus, especially during the festival of Nag Panchami.

At Vandalur, a pair of ophiophagus hannah (the zoological name of king cobra) was brought from a village called Vadanamalli near Mahabalipuram a decade ago. Since then, the two cobras have been kept in an air-conditioned glass box. The health of the female serpent started deteriorating a month ago, while the male king cobra, which is nearly 20 years old, is in good health. According to biologists, king cobras prefer rain forests and humid jungles, thick undergrowth, cool swamps and bamboo clusters . They avoid human habitation, and they are mainly found in cooler places such as Ooty and Kodaikanal

The power generator in the zoo was not in good condition . As a result, the serpents, which are sensitive to hot weather, had to spend long hours in the heat. This had deteriorated the health of the female serpent.

King cobras are found across south east Asia, from India through southern China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The longest king cobras can be found in peninsular Malaysia. Cobras can slide up trees and bushes and spend a significant amount of time above the ground, looking for prey.

URL:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/After_lioness_a_cobra_falls_prey_to_heat_at_Vandalur_/articleshow/3492114.cms

My Relfections :

People should have improved their system and security to take care of the poor snake. Its such a shame that a precoius animal had left the world.The snake should have been take care and observed in a protective environment. Especially the irresistable heat to the snake and cause an ill condition to it.It is a bad thing of humans would do.It is all of the bad condition of the power generator that should make the serpents spend a long time to stand the heat under the hot sun. This is the very cause that make the female snake to devastated to death. They should have improved the system of the zoo to prevent powercuts. Anyway it is also a shamful thing that the zookeeper had no responsibilites to take care of the serpents and treat them bad.

The Vanishing 'Kaliya'

The King Cobra is a snake respected above all others, and for good reason. It is by far the largest venomous snake in the world, packs enough venom to kill an Asian elephant with a single bite to the trunk, and possesses a rare intelligence that scientists are only beginning to understand now. The King Cobra features quite prominently as ‘Kala Nag’ or ‘Kaliya’ in the Hindu Mythology.

Though widespread, the king cobra is uncommon in every part of its range and is considered rare in India. Habitat loss is a major threat to its survival. Forests are disappearing at an alarming rate in many parts of its range, driving the shy snake into populated areas where it's often killed out of fear. The king cobra is also harvested for commercial purposes. Its meat, skin and bile are used in traditional Chinese medicines, and its venom is used to treat pain and illness.

The king cobra is revered as a deity in many parts of India and southeast Asia. Some believe that it controls the rain, thunder and fertility. In one Indian snake cult, a large king cobra is brought to the village in a basket. When the lid is open, the snake rises up and a priestess kisses it on the head, guaranteeing both human and crop fertility. Some believe that if this secretive snake is seen by 100 people, it will die. So, in accordance with this belief, the king cobra will enter a village when it's ready to pass on to the next life.

The king cobra belongs to the family Elapidae, which includes cobras, kraits and coral snakes — all highly venomous species that share the common trait of relatively short, fixed fangs. Once classified as a cobra (genus Naja), the king cobra was eventually moved to its own genus, Ophiophagus. The name "king cobra" is therefore a bit of a misnomer, as it's not a true cobra. Ophiophagus combines the Latin words for snake ("ophio") and eater ("phagus") — an accurate description of its habits. It is sometimes called the hamadryad, a Greek name for "wood nymph." The snake was first scientifically described by a British naturalist named Dr. Thomas Edward Cantor in 1836. The king cobra ranges far and wide throughout tropical Asia. It's found in India, southern China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, where it reaches record lengths. It prefers habitats with dense undergrowth and heavy rainfall, such as rain forests and mangrove swamps.

Uncanny Intelligence

The king cobra possesses a rare intelligence that scientists are only beginning to understand. Some snake experts have experienced a type of communication with the king cobra that is quite unlike any other snake species they've encountered. It has an awareness and alertness far beyond most other snakes; for instance, the male is very conscious of its territory and will chase other males away. In captivity, the king cobra is able to distinguish its care giver from strangers, and is said to be a faster learner than other snakes. The fact that it builds a nest — the only snake to do this — is another indication of its intelligence, according to experts.

Princes and Princesses

After a 60- to 90-day incubation period, the king cobra's eggs are ready to hatch. Just before they do, the mother departs; she's fasted for two to three months and might otherwise be tempted to eat her young, as king cobras feed almost exclusively on snakes. At birth, a king cobra hatchling is around 14 inches in length and 1/2 inch wide. It's glossy black with bright yellow bands, and its venom is as potent as an adult's. Even at birth the king cobra is very alert and will flare its hood if provoked. Ten days after birth, the hatchlings molt and are ready to begin hunting. They are vulnerable to civets, mongooses, giant centipedes and army ants for the first several months. The Cannibalistic Cobra The king cobra preys almost exclusively on snakes, and will even cannibalize smaller individuals of its own species. It mainly preys on non- venomous snakes, like small pythons and rat snakes, but will also eat cobras, kraits and other very venomous snakes. It will also eat the occasional monitor lizard. In captivity, the king cobra can be "taught" to eat warm-blooded prey by making the animal — often a mouse or rat — smell like a snake. A diurnal snake, the king cobra actively forages for prey during the day, using its sense of smell to locate prey and excellent eyesight to strike.

Lovestruck Snakes

Late in the dry season (January through March), the normally solitary king cobra goes looking for love. Shedding skin at the beginning of the breeding season causes the female to release hromones, which helps the male track her down in the thick underbrush. The male rubs his head on the female's body to announce his intentions. If she doesn't seem interested, the Casanova will butt and push her until she agrees to mate. If another male is on the scene, the cobras will wrestle, attempting to push their opponent's head to the ground. When the female is agreeable, the male will wrap his body around her, and the two will remain in this position for several hours. It is thought that male king cobras mate with the same female in successive seasons. The female can store the male's sperm for several years until she's ready to have offspring.

A Protective Parent

In April, May or June, the female king cobra lays a clutch of 20 to 50 eggs in a nest made of twigs, leaves and other vegetation, which she scrapes together into a pile with her coils. No other species of snake does this. The heat created by the rotting vegetation helps incubate the eggs. Once the eggs are deposited, the mother hollows out a second chamber for herself. There she sits for two to three months, guarding the eggs against monitor lizards and mongooses, which may eat them; elephants, which may trample them; wild boars, which may do both; and other predacious or "clumsy" animals. If necessary she will fiercely defend her clutch, but if sufficiently disturbed may abandon the eggs early.

URL : http://mohanpaiblogger.blogspot.com/2008/07/vanishing-species-king-cobra.html

My Perspectives

The fact that King Cobras are exist indeed a piece of a precious matter in this world. As mentioned , it is a belief of the ability from King Cobras to control the elemental such as Storm, Water , Wind , Fire and Earth. It could be say that the very truth of the fact is a unique characteristics of the King Cobra itself.It is including the ways of protecting and raising the eggs of the snakes. Another matter that make this species of snakes so unique is about the names. I mean , is there even such animals with the name given as either "King , or prince or princess?" . We , as humans are too selfish to just think about ourselves and not bothering the consequences.We destroyed their habitat , their hope and place to live , happily with their kids. It make us humans to be such sinful creatures. However, with our destruction of the environment , the have no choice but to attack townspeople and cities to have a living place. It is us who making them to raid us of what we did to them. Hunting,Poaching,Destroying,we should have understood them more. Even they are not humans , but they still have rights , have feelings.

The India King Cobra Snake

The heavy and muscular King Cobra can kill other snakes with its powerful venom. The snake’s hollow fangs grow to a length of 0.5 inch. The King Cobra punches them into its prey like hypodermic needles, and injects powerful venom. The venom glands lie behind the eyes. The snake can then dislocate its jaw to engulf large prey.

The King Cobra uses its menacing hood to warn off other animals. Its neck spreads to form a hood with a double chevron marking on the back. Its skin is olive green, tan or black with pale yellow crossbands down the length of the body. The underbelly is cream or yellow. The King Cobra detects prey by flicking its tongue out to collect scents from the air. Inside the mouth, the tongue passes over the Jacobson's organ - a receptor that analyzes different scents.
The King Cobra is mainly found in Asia, you can find it in clearings, amongst bamboo thickets and in the borders of the forest. In Northern India, the King Cobra can be found in forest, and up into the foothills of the Himalayas. Cobras can climb trees with ease, but will rarely do so unless chasing his next meal. King Cobras can also be found on farmland and in outlying parts of villages. As forests are cleaned, Cobras are increasingly encountered by humans.

The King Cobra preys on other snakes and lizards. It will attack venomous snakes and nonvenomous ones, such as small pythons. The cobra tracks prey by sight and by tasting the air with its tongue. It strikes quickly and its venom paralyzes the victim’s nervous system. The King Cobra can dislocate its jaws like other snakes, and gradually work its meal into its long stomach.

The King Cobra is active by day; it moves quietly through vegetation and deliberately avoids disturbances. If an intruder startles the King Cobra, it rears its head, spreads its neck to form a hood and sways back and forth. This is intended to intimidate the intruder so the Cobra does not have to strike. If an intruder does not leave when warned the Cobra will strike quickly and deadly. The Cobra's bite is little use against birds of prey, which swoop down from behind to strike the snakes head. The Cobra will hide in thickets to avoid these enemies.
In January, the male King Cobra starts to look for a mate. He tastes the air with his flickering tongue. Then, when he locates the female Cobra, he will rub his chin along her body to calm her and to stimulate her for mating. After a month of mating the two snakes emerge from their hiding place. The female seeks out a secluded spot, she then excavates a shallow, circular depression in the ground up to 3 feet. in diameter. There she deposits 40-50 eggs and remains on or near the nest until they hatch in 70 -77 days. The female defends her nest site aggressively. The male may also stay close by for a while to assist in defence. When the eggs hatch, the hatchlings are 12 to 25 inches long. Their venom, produced in small quantities, is just a powerful as an adults. As soon as all the young snakes have hatched, the female leaves them to look after themselves.

A King Cobra female will lay eggs about once per year. The King Cobra forest habitat is disappearing. In eastern Asia, the snake is killed to use in medicines and to eat. Although not yet endangered, the King Cobra has few allies and its population is likely to decline in the future.

http://www.cobras.org/cob_1.htm

Additional Facts :

Scientific Data: Cobras belong to the family Elapidae (Reptilia: Serpentes). There is much discussion among researchers and taxonomists as to the actual variations of both the African and Asian species. Venom researchers have known of these differences for some time, but did not have a sound systematic framework on which to base this. It was not until recently, with an interest in developing more effective antivenins, that extensive scientific research has been conducted into these differences. Due to the ongoing research in the field, the classifications and taxonomic naming of the varieties of cobras is currently dynamic. I have attempted to use that information herein which is most widely accepted.

In the past, Asian cobras have been generally classified as Naja naja. More recent population systematics research has revealed a number of sub-species as follows: N. naja in northern india and Pakistan, N. kauthia in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam; N. sumatrana in northern Malaysia and southern Thailand; N. oxiana in Pakistan, N. sagittifera in the Andaman Islands, N. atra in China, Taiwan, northern Vietnam, N. Philippinensis in the northern Philippines, N. samarensis in the southern Philippines, and N. sputatrix in southern Indonesia.

The king cobra is classified as Ophiophagus hannah (aka Hamadryad), the spitting cobra as Naja nigricollis, the Egyptian cobra as Naja haje, the water cobras as N. boulengerina, the tree cobras as N. pseudohaje, the "pink" cobra as N. pallida, and the shield-nose cobra as N. aspidelaps.

http://www.allsands.com/science/animals/kingcobrasnake_unu_gn.htm

My Reflections :

I agreed that cobra is a very dangerous and poisonous animal. However , I would disagree that they should be killed and hunted. Its a wise choice that India Government had planned various places to conserve king cobras species to extinct. Meanwhile , there should be trained people who can handle to train wild cobra to be a tame cobra itself.

On the other hand , it would also be unwise to let a horde of wild cobras to wandering along public plcaes that can harm people. As cobras still are poisonous animals.

We should as well inform people and educate people about the iinformation. It is to tell people that even cobras is dangerous , it doesn't mean that they should be hunted.