Come,Let's meet the cobra!

For sure, most adults can say no.But not a child,fear of snakes, including the cobra, is not an instinctive trait in young children or even animals. Aversion to snakes can be caused by unreliable information, exaggerated stories, myths and misconceptions.

Of course, when invited you to meet a snake,I mean at a safe distance! Snakes,cobra in this case,are very poisonous and we don't want to approach and stroke them.And it’s not likely that it will line up and would be waiting to greet us,nope! Upon hearing our approach they would be a hasty retreat to a safe hiding place. So, let's just meet the cobra by learning some fascinating facts about this interesting creature.

Cobras are reptiles belonging to the suborder Serpenti and belonging to the family Elapidae, a name for poisonous snakes with striped fangs. There are about 12 species of snakes distributed from Australia to the tropics of Asia and Africa, including Arabia and the temperate zones. By far the most terrifying snake is the king cobra or hamadryad. With a length of 3 to 5 meters, it is the largest poisonous snake in the world. It prefers dense jungle or swampy undergrowth where rainfall is abundant and is found in southern China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and parts of India. A jet black tail, colorful stripes on the greenish yellow body, which turns dark olive with age, and accumulations of small spots on the hood make it quite beautiful.

Other species of cobra are 1-2m long, native and widespread in India, the cobra with unique markings on the hood reminiscent of glasses. It can be black, dark brown, or yellowish-white with a broad dark neck and white-yellow spotted bands along the body. Found in Sri Lanka and eastern and northeastern India, the monocle cobra is lighter, with a smaller, more rounded hood with a single white circle, hence its name. We can find a jet-black cobra in northwest India and Pakistan. In Africa there are among others the Ringhal or Spitting cobra and the Egyptian Cobra.

Cobras only mate with their own species and are attracted to a unique musky scent. They show more interest in the family than other snakes, with the male and female often staying together. The female king cobra is one of the few snakes known to build nests. It scrapes the leaves into a pile about 12 inches high and lays 20 to 50 eggs inside. Then it wraps its body around the mound and remains there without food for almost two months of incubation, with the male often sticking around. Other snakes, without nesting, stay near their eggs to protect them.

Snake babies use an egg tooth which is then dropped to break and loosen the shell. When they emerge, they are completely independent, with poisonous glands and fully developed fangs. They often stick their tongues out, taste their surroundings, and transmit chemical information to what's called Jacobson's organ on the palate. This is related to the sense of smell.The combination of taste and smell helps the snake to follow its prey, find a mate, or escape predators.

The young cobra grows rapidly and quickly changes its skin, which become very stiff. This unusual phenomenon recurs regularly as the cobra continues to grow throughout its life, which can exceed 20 years. For a week or two before molting, the cobra is lethargic, its skin is dull, and its eyes turn milky blue. Then suddenly, wiping its eyes and rubbing its head against the rocks, the cobra tears the old skin from its mouth. It is now literally peeling off her skin as it peels off inside out, from the sheer hood to the eyes to the tail. Now a living, shiny, new-looking cobra is ready to resume normal activity.

Air temperature has a strong influence on cobras. When the weather gets colder, they slow down and even fall asleep, only stirring when the temperature rises. Too much heat can kill them. With the exception of the king cobra, which feeds on snakes, their diet consists of rats, mice, frogs, lizards, birds, and other small animals. Once captured, the lethal injection will render the prey immobile. It is taken whole because the snake is not equipped to chew food. The elasticity of the skin and the flexibility of the jaw allow a cobra to swallow an animal two or three times its own head. With the victim's mouth completely blocked, the snake breathes while pushing the entrance of the trachea forward over the obstacle, much like a swimmer uses a snorkel. Now, rows of backward curving teeth move the prey around the snake's body.It then retreats to a quiet place to slowly digest its food and perhaps not eat for several days. The snake can go months without eating because it takes advantage of the fat stored in its body.

Snakes are cautions.The cobra's defense lies in escape, perhaps by crawling under a rock or into a hole, or silently goes undetected. Facing a cobra,it  gets up and takes cover, hissing to frighten the enemy. Biting is the last resort.

Snake bite

Snakebites are often underreported in rural areas of Africa and Asia, but around one million people around the world are bitten by poisonous snakes each year. India holds the record for deaths, around 10,000 per year, possibly most from the Spectacled Cobra. About 10% of snake bites are fatal.

The cobra is slower than many snakes; the agile mongoose, one of its main enemies, can defeat it. Jumping on the snake, thus avoiding the attack repeatedly, the mongoose leaves the snake nervous and hesitant. It hangs behind the hood and breaks its neck. Many snakes attack in a coiled position, making it difficult to determine their range, but the snake lifts its body and attacks directly. Distance can be measured and a person can move outside of the relatively slow range of motion.

Some cobras, such as the collared cobra, the South African black-necked cobra, and the Northeast Indian cobra, defend themselves by spitting. The snake stands up and turns its fangs towards the victim.With the expelled air, the snake can release two fine streams of venom over 2meters. It does not damage the skin, but if it comes in contact with the eyes, it can cause temporary blindness and, if not removed quickly, permanent blindness. Interestingly, the cobra appears to be able to aim for the eyes.

Suppose a cobra bites you, what should you do? The venom comes out of the poison bags in the cobra's cheeks through two short, hollow, fixed fangs in front of the snake's jaws. These fangs pierce the skin and inject venom like a hypodermic syringe. The only sure cure for snakebites is the antidote to the venom of four poisonous snakes. At the start of the 20th century, India was the first country to make heavy use of toxic drugs. The anti-poison powder is effective for five years without refrigeration; reconstituted is injected.

Symptoms of a snake bite are pain and swelling at the site, blurred vision, instability, paralysis of the larynx, and slow breathing. Death occurs in about two hours if a large dose of poison is injected and no treatment is given.

The snake charmer

Snake charm is a very ancient form of entertainment. Practiced mainly in the East, some western circuses have integrated it into their repertoire. Due to its unusual hood and nervous character, the Spectacled Cobra is the most popular snake, but other impressive cobras are also used, such as the Royal Cobra and the Red Sands Boa. While the charmer, a skillful showman, plays his flute, the cobra rises from the basket and extends its hood into its normal defensive stance. The snake charmer's movements provoke a reaction in the cobra, which watches over him, always ready to attack. Most snakes used by snake charmers have their fangs removed, but some men run the risk of working with poisonous snakes.

In ancient India, the itinerant snake charmer also spoke of religious ideas and myths, which gave him a popular charm. Nowadays, it is more cost effective to present outside of hotels frequented by tourists who are satisfied with cameras. Some snake charmers visit homes and inform residents that their large garden is a likely place for snakes. For an agreed amount, he offers to withdraw them. He disappears into the bushes, and after a while, during which the sound of his flute is heard, he returns with a bag full of snakes. Of course, the head of the family would have done well to watch him or at least check if he had a lot of snakes with him!

Snake educate

Cobras were killed for their beautiful skins, which were made into belts, bags, shoes and other luxury items. In one year, more than ten million snakes were killed in India for the fur industry.Vegetable dyes are used in India to color the skin and the glass is polished and sometimes sprinkled with lacquer to polish and repel water.

The value of the snake cannot be overstated. Save tons of grain by killing rats and other worms. Its venom provides antivenom, pain relievers and other drugs.Some renowned Institutes are studying the effect of snake venom on cancer cells.

Did you enjoy meeting the cobra?Beautiful, helpful, careful, well equipped to defend themselves.