Dear Aspirants!
Key Points on King Cobra and Conservation in India:
1. Species Status and Recent Taxonomic Update:
- The King Cobra, the world’s longest venomous snake, was recently reclassified into four distinct species: Ophiophagus hannah (northern and eastern India, Andaman Islands), Ophiophagus kaalinga (Western Ghats), Ophiophagus bungarus (Malay Peninsula, parts of southern Philippines), and Ophiophagus salvatana (Luzon, Philippines). This taxonomic revision is relevant for UPSC under biodiversity and conservation topics.
- The Western Ghats King Cobra (Ophiophagus kaalinga) is endemic to southwestern India, making it a focal point for regional conservation efforts.
2. Conservation Status:
- The King Cobra is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List (since 2010) due to habitat destruction, poaching for skin, meat, and traditional medicine, and the illegal pet trade
- In India, it is protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, with penalties for killing including up to six years of imprisonment.
3. Ecological and Cultural Significance:
- The King Cobra is India’s national reptile and holds a prominent place in mythology and folk traditions across India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar.
- As an apex predator, it primarily feeds on other snakes, including venomous ones like kraits and cobras, contributing to ecological balance.
4. Conservation Efforts:
- Agumbe Rainforest Research Station (ARRS) in Karnataka, led by herpetologist Romulus Whitaker, focuses on King Cobra research, rescue, rehabilitation, and captive breeding. It aims to establish the world’s first King Cobra sanctuary, using the species as a flagship for rainforest conservation in the Western Ghats
- Rescue operations, such as the one in Assam’s Haldibari Reserve Forest in December 2024, highlight ongoing efforts to protect King Cobras straying into human settlements. The snake was rehabilitated and released by the Forest Department and IFAW-WTI.
- The Indian government uses microchips in captive King Cobras to combat illegal wildlife trade.
5. Challenges:
- Habitat loss due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and urbanization threatens King Cobra populations, particularly in the Western Ghats and Northeast India.
- Snakebite envenoming is a major public health concern in rural areas, with no specific antivenom for King Cobra bites in India, increasing risks to human populations.
- A 2025 Indian Express article highlighted the unfeasibility of a proposal by the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister to count snakes and rear King Cobras, citing ecological and practical challenges.
Why No Reintroduction Program?
Unlike cheetahs, which went extinct in India and required reintroduction from Africa, King Cobras are still present in India, albeit threatened. Conservation efforts focus on habitat protection, research, and reducing human-wildlife conflict rather than reintroduction. The Cheetah Reintroduction Plan (e.g., Kuno National Park) is a more prominent UPSC topic due to its scale and international collaboration, but King Cobra conservation aligns with broader biodiversity and ecosystem restoration themes.
