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Other50 Years Ago: King Cobra Arrives at Madras Snake Park
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On July 28, 1976, the Madras Snake Park in Guindy received a new King Cobra, caught in the North Andamans rain forest on June 15 by Romulus Whitaker, the park's Honorary Director. The snake, a female, arrived in Madras on July 1 and was placed in a special enclosure designed to simulate its natural habitat. Previous King Cobras from Thailand and Karnataka had died in captivity, prompting efforts to air condition the enclosure. Whitaker noted that King Cobras are found only in specific rain forests and mangrove swamps in India, including the Sunderbans, Bhitarkanika sanctuary, and Western Ghats. The article describes the species' growth from 12-15 inches at hatching to a maximum of 19 feet, with females laying about 20 eggs that hatch in two months. It also clarifies that the King Cobra is not a true cobra, though it is also poisonous.
Source report
Madras, July 28 — The Madras Snake Park in Guindy has welcomed a new resident: a King Cobra. Captured in the North Andamans rain forest on June 15 by Mr. Romulus Whitaker, Honorary Director of the Park, the snake arrived in Madras on July 1 and has since been housed in a specially designed enclosure that simulates its natural habitat.
Previous Challenges
- A King Cobra brought to the Snake Park from Thailand died after seven months.
- Another specimen from Karnataka also did not survive long.
- Efforts are now underway to air-condition the enclosure to improve conditions.
Visitors can observe the snake moving during the cooler hours of the day.
Habitat and Distribution
According to Mr. Whitaker, the King Cobra is found only in select rain forests and in extreme estuarine mangrove swamps, including:
- The Sunderbans (Bengal)
- The Bhitarkanika sanctuary on the Orissa coast
- The Western Ghats
Physical Characteristics and Reproduction
- Length at hatching: 12 to 15 inches
- Maximum length: 19 feet
- Girth: Approximately 5 inches
- Clutch size: About 20 eggs per female
- Incubation period: Approximately two months
(The snake brought to Madras is a female.)
Classification
Despite being venomous, the King Cobra is not a true cobra. It belongs to a different genus than the common cobra.
Published: July 29, 2026 02:20 am IST
Source
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Regional
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Fifty Years Ago: King Cobra Arrives at Madras Snake Park