Snake Handlers’ Skillful Rescue of 12-Foot King Cobra Goes Vira
In the village Agumbe of Maharashtra, a 12-foot-long king cobra was found on a tree within the compound of the house.
The cobra was first noticed by the villagers crossing a main road in the village. Later, it took refuge in a tree, in the garden of a house.
As soon as the house owner spotted the snake in the garden, panic stroked among the family, and they alerted the forest department which notified Agumbe Rainforest Research Station (ARRS) officials of Karnataka.
Ajay Giri, who is the field director at Agumbe Rainforest Research Station (ARRS) rushed to the location with the team soon after getting the information, as it was dangerous for both the snake and the residents. He instructed the locals over the phone about the do’s and don’ts.
King Cobra in Agumbe Ghat in western ghat of South Karnataka.
Rescued & released safely🙏 pic.twitter.com/NAQvaHnc67— Susanta Nanda (@susantananda3) July 19, 2024
The video showed the whole process of rescuing the snake, where the team first used a cylindrical pipe-like object fitted it at the opening of a bag and then secured the bag with brick on the ground.
The team immediately started the rescue operation. They used a rod with a hooklike structure at the end, to bring the cobra down from the tree. They gently removed it from the premises. After that, they placed the 12-foot-long cobra inside their rescue bag. The snake slithered into the bag.
After that, the bag was sealed and it was weighed by the team. The king cobra was then safely released into the forest (its natural habitat) by the wildlife officials in Agumbe, Karnataka.
The rescue team (ARRS) also conducted an onsite awareness programme for locals after the rescue of the snake. They taught the villagers about the dos and don’ts of different situations. They also distributed informative materials. The viral video was posted on July 14 2024. The video has earned much praise for softly and gently handling the situation and rescuing the snake. The video was then reposted by an IFS officer Susanta Nanda on X. Many users commented and reacted to the video.
One of the users commented “Kings have the most magnificent look when it comes to snake’s world… these creatures are truly. Their majestic and dreadfully powerful looks are unmatched…extraordinary handling expertise and rescue!!”.
The other commented, “What a gorgeous cobra. Thank you for saving him”.
The third user commented “Thanks for not showing any stunts with the snake”.
Many more comments are praising the work of the team and also adoring the king cobra.
The king cobra is a venomous snake found in Asia. It is the world’s largest venomous snake. The species have diversified colouration. It preys chiefly on other snakes, including those of its kind. It can reach up to a length of 18 feet. They can “stand up” and can be seen as a full-grown person and can also lift to a third of their body from the ground to attack
