In a reflection of growing human-wildlife overlap, Kerala has recorded 494 king cobra rescues from human-inhabited areas over the past five years, with the snakes being safely released into forest areas.
Ernakulam topped the list with 70 rescues, followed by Wayanad (68) and Kannur (61), while Alappuzha (2), Thiruvananthapuram (11), and Malappuram (17) reported the fewest incidents. So far in 2024, 148 rescues have been recorded, with 63 already reported till March.
Experts attribute the increased sightings not to a population surge, but to better reporting, seasonal movement during mating, prey availability, and habitat disruption due to urban sprawl. Sandeep Das, a research associate at the University of Calicut, emphasized that a single snake might be rescued multiple times, skewing data.
Forest officials say the rescues are handled by trained snake handlers and herpetologists. Tools like the Sarpa app, public awareness drives, and helplines have improved response times and snake identification.
Assistant Conservator of Forests Mohammed Anvar highlighted that king cobras, though highly venomous, are not naturally aggressive and often stray into human spaces while searching for mates or prey, particularly from January to April, their mating season.
However, challenges remain in ensuring adequate rescue kits and timely response despite trained personnel. Officials continue to urge the public to maintain a safe distance and contact professionals when a king cobra is spotted.
Despite their fearsome reputation, only three king cobra bite fatalities have been documented nationwide — one being the death of a zoo staffer in Thiruvananthapuram in 2021.