MAKING A SPECTACLE
King cobras are widespread in forests, mangroves and farmlands along the Western Ghats, Himalayan foothills and eastern parts of India, lowland Nepal and South-east Asia, east to China’s eastern coast, the Philippines and Indonesia, so are frequently encountered by people. Yet, although their venom is fatal to us – a single envenomation would be sufficient to kill 20 humans – it is the spectacled cobra that kills more people. Also known as the Indian cobra, the latter is used by snake charmers in India. It cannot hear the music but responds to the movements of the ‘charmer’.