Hobbies And Interests
Giant Spitting Cobra
The giant spitting cobra, or Naja ashei, measures as much as 9 feet and possesses enough venom to kill 15 people. Native to Kenya, the world's largest spitting cobras are found in the dry lowlands of north and east Kenya, as well as in similar habitats in southern Ethiopia, southern Somalia and northeastern Uganda.
King Cobra
The king cobra is the largest species of cobra, averaging 13 feet in length but known to reach up to 18 feet. They are found all across southeast Asia, from India, China and Malaysia, to Indonesia and the Philippines. They are found in mangroves, swamps, bamboo thickets, dense and open rainforests, savannas and even in villages, towns and cities.
King Cobra Habitat Adaptations
King cobras are good swimmers and excellent tree climbers, and even thrive among the mountainous regions of India up to 6,500 feet, from the Western Ghats to the Himalayas. They hunt during the day and during the night and generally lead solitary lives, only coming together to mate. They have been known, however, to breed with the same mate each year.
King Cobra Habitat Loss
A study by the Department of Zoology at the University of Kerala finds that the king cobra faces the threat of habitat loss. Deforestation and the criminal activity of poachers and illegal liquor brewers are forcing the migration of snakes from their natural, bamboo-rich forest habitats and into more frequent contact with humans. The increased fragmentation of the remaining sections of the rainforests in the Western Ghats bodes poorly for the king cobra's future in the region.