KING COBRA VENOM

King Cobra venom, which is composed mostly of proteins and polypeptides. Cobra venom is produced in specialized salivary glands just behind the animal's eyes.

When biting its prey, venom is forced through the snake's half-inch-long ( 8-10 mm ) fangs and into the wound.

The King Cobra's venom is primarily neurotoxic and thus attacks :

• The victim's central nervous system and quickly induces : Severe pain, Blurred vision, Vertigo, Drowsiness, Paralysis
• Cardiovascular collapse occurs in the minutes following and the victim falls into a coma.
• Death soon follows due to respiratory failure

For example, a single bite from a King Cobra can deliver enough venom to kill a full-grown Asian elephant within 3 hours if the snake bites it in the trunk.

There are two types of antivenin made specifically to treat King Cobra envenomations :

1. The Red cross in Thailand manufactures one
2. The Central Research Institute in India manufactures the other

However both are made in small quantities and are not widely available.
Despite the King Cobra's fearsome reputation and deadly bite, it is a shy and reclusive animal, avoiding confrontation with humans as often as possible.

There are other venomous snakes within this species' range that are responsible for a more fatal snake bites than the King Cobra such as :

• Monocled cobra
• Russell΄s Viper
• Banded Krait

Although the venom is less toxic than that of many other venomous snakes, including the Indian Cobra, a King Cobra is capable of injecting more venom than most other snakes due to its large size.

In Burma, King Cobras are often used by female snake charmers. The charmer is usually tattooed with three pictograms using an ink mixed with snake venom; superstition holds that it protects the charmer from the snake. The charmer kisses the snake on the top of its head at the end of the show.

Posted in: cobra,veterinary