Wildlife Wednesday

~ The King Cobra ~

Although this reptile brings fear in the minds of most people, the cobra is revered in Hindu mythology. Nine great "Nagas" appear in ancient Indian fables and scriptures, symbolizing that death and the aspec tthat the Lord Shiva has conquered it; and a divine, dormant energy, Kundalini, than in Yogic practice is believed to be situated in the root of the spine.

Picture Courtesy nationalgeographic.co.in

Doesn't it seem a little unfair the that King Cobra can lift about a third of their bodies off the ground and still be able to lunge forward to attack, or that they can "stand up" and look an adult human in the eye, and that the amount of venom they can administer in a single bite is potent enough to kill an elephant. At the same time, synthetic cobra venom is vital in certain pain relief and arthritis medication.

The king Cobra can grow up to 5.5 metres, and is the the longest of all venomous snakes. It lives mainly in the rainforests and plains of India, China and South-East Asia.