The king cobra or
hamadryad (Ophiophagus hannah) is the world’s longest venomous snake,
with recorded lengths of over 5.5 meters (Aagaard, 1924). King cobras are
listed in Schedule II of the Indian Wildlife Act, and as vulnerable in IUCN (see
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/177540/0). In India their range extends across the Western
and Eastern Ghats, sub-Himalayan region and Northeast India; with their
habitats varying from humid tropics to sub-tropical and mangroves. Our study
site is mixed dry thorn scrub forests with temperatures over 40oC;
drier, compared to other king cobra habitats in India. Currently considered as
monotypic genus, king cobras are cryptic species likely to be recognized,
bringing the Eastern Ghat’s king cobras up for a status re-evaluation. Paucity
of data hinders assessing its ecological and conservational status. Unlike in
Agumbe (Western Ghats), people here do not tolerate king cobras, with killings
reported once every two months in the last six months (many unreported). Huge tracts of forests in Eastern Ghats have
been lost to development, much of it irreplaceable strongholds of biodiversity.
Due to anthropogenic and political sensitiveness, studies about the region's
biodiversity particularly king cobras, have been sparse. By using a combination
of research, education and interaction, our study will assist the Government in
identifying forests worthy of protection based on the presence of king cobras,
a potential flagship species of this region.
The king
cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), is a top
predator and an icon of the rainforest. Through research and education
programmes throughout king cobra habitats of Andhra Pradesh we aim to gain
further knowledge of king cobra for conservation and human snake conflict
mitigation. The data collected will be used to advise the creation of protected
areas, using the king cobra as an umbrella species under which the
habitat and biodiversity of the Eastern Ghats can be conserved.
Being an
apex predator, king cobras are indicative of the health of herpetofauna of the
region. Hence apart from studying king cobras, a study of their prey base and
the overall status of the region’s herpetofauna will be assessed.
Coupled
with the data that we are collecting from this project, we believe that we will
be able to bring out a comprehensive understanding of the king cobra, its
habits and natural history that will enable the functional conservation of this
iconic species.
AIMS
- To estimate historical
and current records of occurrence and abundance, predicting occurrence,
distribution, establishing presence or absence of king cobras in the
region (probably an isolated or peripheral population) through surveys.
- Breeding biology
(monitoring mating pairs and nests).
- The dwindling forest
cover push king cobras in conflict with humans, and with almost zero
tolerance, they get killed. We will
collect data essential for assessing human-snake conflict, and develop
tangent measures to minimize it.
- Through reptile and
amphibian surveys the overall status of the prey base and herpetofaunal
strength will be assessed.
- By involving students,
forest officials and local communities, we will create awareness through
educational campaigns and drives.
Our
larger vision is to establish a permanent field station for the study of king
cobras and to carry out long term monitoring.
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| A dead king cobra preserved at a science college in Srikakulam. |
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| King Cobra feeding on a snake in the reserve forests of Maredumilli |
.JPG)
