The father of photographer Daryl Tan captured a rare sighting without knowing he had become the first person in Singapore to document a king cobra eating another of its kind.
The king cobra is a rarely seen species in Singapore, and witnessing them with prey is even more challenging. (Photo: Daryl Tan).
“The gigantic snake!!!”
This was the caption in a video sent by Daryl Tan’s father, an avid snake photographer, to him on the afternoon of June 6.
At that moment, Tan’s father had no idea he might be the first person in Singapore to capture footage of a king cobra consuming another snake, swallowing it whole while the prey was still alive.
Astonishment
Daryl Tan was astonished when he watched the video recorded by his father in a mangrove forest on the western part of the island.
“My father often sends me pictures and videos of snakes because he knows I get very excited whenever I see one, and he asks me to identify the species,” Daryl Tan told Straits Times.
Tan, a 35-year-old educator, has pursued his passion for snake photography in Singapore since 2005.
He further shared: “Typically, they’re just common snakes, like tree snakes and paradise tree snakes, but this time my father hit ‘the jackpot’ without realizing it.”
The king cobra is a rare species in Singapore and encountering them with prey is even more difficult.
This species is classified as vulnerable in the Singapore Red Data Book, which provides information such as scientific and common names, along with descriptions of each species of flora and fauna in the region.
Only one other recorded instance of a king cobra attacking another of its kind occurred in April 2019, but the observer lost track of the situation, so it remains unclear whether the smaller snake was eventually subdued or eaten.
“Any predation sighting, regardless of the species, is always significant,” Daryl Tan affirmed.
In his 19 years of wildlife photography, he has only encountered one other instance of a reptile engaging in cannibalism, which was a gecko hunting another gecko.
Although king cobras are occasionally found in natural areas like the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, such cannibalistic behavior is a rare and unique occurrence. (Photo: Remy Shek).
“The moment I saw the video and realized it was a king cobra eating a smaller one, I knew I had to go see it in person, even if it meant having a strong belief and possibly facing disappointment if the trip turned out fruitless.”
After verifying the video’s content with fellow enthusiasts, Tan rushed to the site with one of them, Remy Shek, 16 years old.
The ‘Royal Encounter’
For both Tan and Shek, there was no way to know how long the battle between the two king cobras had been going on, or if they were still there. If the fight had just begun, they might still have a chance to observe.
A previous encounter, in which a king cobra battled and ultimately consumed a reticulated python in 2023, lasted over 7 hours.
King cobras also have some resistance to the venom of their kind, so it may take a while to subdue them.
Tan witnessed the 2023 confrontation and believes this latest encounter is even more valuable.
He stated: “We thought the battle between the king cobra and the reticulated python was a ‘royal’ confrontation because one side was the longest venomous snake in the world and the other was the longest python in the world – but this is the true ‘royal’ clash.”
“Unfortunately, this is a fight to the death.”
King cobras have some resistance to the venom of their kind, so it may take some time to subdue their opponent. (Photo: Daryl Tan).
Arriving at the scene about an hour later, Tan and Shek managed to locate both king cobras.
They observed that the larger snake was over 3 meters long. The smaller one was estimated to be over 2 meters, but both had similar girth.
The larger king cobra had dragged the smaller one away from where they were initially discovered and was consuming it on the walking path.
However, the smaller king cobra was still alive. “At times, it would resist and fight back even when half of its body was already in the mouth of the larger one,” Tan noted.
At one point, rain began to fall, so Tan and Shek had to hold onto their cameras. Both continued to observe this scene from a distance for about an hour and a half in the rain until the larger snake had finished its meal and slithered away, Shek reported.
The larger snake measured over 3 meters. The smaller one was estimated to be over 2 meters, but both had similar girth. (Photo: Remy Shek).
Tan mentioned that they had to keep their distance throughout the encounter for their own safety. In the end, they managed to capture photos of both highly venomous snakes.
They also wanted to avoid causing any stress to the animal, as snakes often regurgitate and skip meals as a fleeing strategy.
“Wildlife is always more important than photography,” Tan affirmed.
A Historic Discovery
Shivaram Rasu, a scientist from the Singapore Reptile Society, confirmed that both snakes were indeed king cobras and stated that this discovery appears to be the first reliable documentation of cannibalistic behavior in king cobras in the wild in Singapore.
He said: “Although king cobras are occasionally found in natural areas like the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, cannibalism like this is a rare and unique occurrence.”
“This sighting is particularly fascinating because it provides us with valuable insights into the feeding habits of king cobras. While cannibalistic behavior in a species has been observed in many different snake species worldwide, it is still relatively rare, making this observation even more significant,” the expert added.
Daryl Tan and Remy Shek observed the scene from a distance for about an hour and a half until the larger snake finished its meal and slithered away. (Photo: Daryl Tan).
A 30-year-old environmental consultant emphasized the importance of documenting such encounters on scientific platforms like the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum in the Singapore Biodiversity Records, contributing to broader knowledge and conservation efforts.
Tan mentioned that he plans to do so.
Shivaram suggested that if people come across such instances, they should keep their distance from these animals, as predatory or foraging species can be more easily stressed.
He stated: “It’s important to remember that these are wild animals, and our presence can cause them stress or disrupt their natural behavior.”
“Respecting their space is not only for our safety but also for their well-being.”
