A python attempts to suffocate a king cobra, while the snake sinks its fangs into the opponent’s neck to inject its potent venom.
They began their battle from the underbrush and then dragged each other out to the roadside.
Anoochit Preecha witnessed the intense struggle between the king cobra and the python in Nakhon Si Thammarat, southern Thailand, on December 9. “One was fighting for its life while the other was trying to satisfy its hunger. I was very lucky to witness such a rare sight,” Preecha shared.
They began their battle from the underbrush and then dragged each other out to the roadside. The python coiled its thick, heavy body around the king cobra, trying to constrict its opponent. At the same time, the venomous creature managed to sink its fangs into the python’s neck.
Typically, pythons subdue their prey by constricting them, while cobras attack the neck to inject their potent venom. In this case, the king cobra held on long enough for the venom to weaken the python, causing it to loosen its grip. After the python succumbed, it was gradually swallowed by the predator.
The king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the longest venomous snake in the world, with adults capable of reaching over 5.5 meters in length. This species is primarily found in India, southern China, and Southeast Asia. Their venom contains a large amount of neurotoxins, which can be fatal after a single bite.
King cobras frequently prey on other snake species, both venomous and non-venomous. Additionally, they consume lizards, eggs, and some small mammals. Some snake species, including king cobras, may cannibalize each other when competing for food or territory.
