A nearly 4.6-meter-long male cobra has been rescued and released into the forest by local authorities.
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department in India rescued a 4.6-meter-long male cobra from a private factory in the urban area of Kadayam in Tenkasi district.
The incident occurred on November 16, near Govindaperi. Panic swept through the area after the cobra was discovered, prompting local residents to immediately notify forestry officials.
Upon receiving the alert, authorities arrived to rescue the cobra. After capturing the venomous snake, they placed it in a sack and released it back into the forest. A video of the incident went viral on social media, drawing significant attention.
Last month, a similar incident took place in Kanniyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, where locals reported the sighting of a king cobra. The reptile was subsequently rescued by forestry officials.
The king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the longest venomous snake in the world. Adult specimens typically measure around 4 meters, although some can exceed 5.5 meters in length. They are primarily found in tropical forests extending from India to Southeast Asia. This species usually hunts during the day, preying on snakes, lizards, eggs, and some small mammals. King cobras predominantly hunt on the ground but are also adept at climbing trees and swimming.
This highly venomous snake is ground-dwelling but is also an excellent climber and swimmer. They are considered dangerous to humans since they frequently invade residential areas in search of food.
While king cobras usually avoid humans, they can become aggressive when threatened. Their population is declining due to habitat loss. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed them as a vulnerable species in the Red List since 2010.
