Injured King Cobra rescued, operated upon after JCB accident in Una

Shimla: An injured King Cobra was rescued and treated at the zonal veterinary hospital in Barnoh, Una, after being run over by a JCB earthmover.The incident occurred on the morning of Feb 25 when the snake was crossing a road in Malahat village. Local snake catcher Jitendra Kumar rushed to the spot after being alerted by residents. He found the reptile critically injured and immediately shifted it to the veterinary hospital for treatment.
Under the supervision of Dr Shilpa and her team, the snake underwent surgery. Damaged tissues were removed and the wounds were stitched and dressed.Dr Shilpa, who has 12 years of experience, tols TOI that handling the King Cobra was particularly challenging as it is highly venomous. She and her colleague, Dr Deepshikha, administered local anaesthesia through a spray along with a small dose of inhaled sedation before operating on the reptile."The injuries were extremely severe and classified as third-degree. Its internal organs, including the intestines, were exposed and had come out. We thoroughly cleaned and washed the wounds, repositioned the organs and then sutured them carefully," she said.The snake is currently under observation for at least five days and will be released into its natural habitat depending on its recovery.Dr Shilpa, who is on her third posting, said it is rare for such critically injured snakes to be brought to veterinary doctors. In the past, she has treated snakes with minor injuries, often brought in by Army personnel for training-related purposes.The King Cobra is a protected species listed under Part II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The law provides for imprisonment between three and seven years and a fine of at least Rs 10,000 for killing the species. However, Section 11(2) of the Act permits the killing or wounding of a wild animal in good faith in self-defence or in defence of others.Officials said the early onset of summer in Una district has led to an increase in snake sightings in residential areas. MSID:: 128850197 413 |