King cobra rescued near Keri as natural habitat shrinks

Keri: Although Keri is known for its rich flora and fauna, growing cashew plantations in the area have threatened the natural habitat of many animals. Every year in summer the king cobra is seen in these plantations in search of food. While plucking the cashew nuts, villagers often notice rat snakes consuming rats that thrives on the dried cashew apples.

King cobra survives by swallowing rat snakes and other smaller snakes, except in captivity it relishes meat.

A king cobra had come near the human settlement at Tembwada, Keri, on Tuesday and was rescued by Viraj Naik, a snake rescuer.

“I was informed that a king cobra is in the right bank canal of the Anjunem dam in Tembwada. It was around 2.5m long, so it took longer time to catch it. Afterwards, I handed it safely to Vishant Naik, associated with the Keri forest range,” Viraj Raya Naik, told TOI.

On two earlier occasions, Viraj Naik rescued twine king cobras in Keri at Ambedkar Nagar and Mathwada hamlets.

“The historical presence of king cobras in this evergreen forest, supported by its consistent water supply, is now under threat,” said Sunil Kerkar, a wildlifer from Keri. He further added that the expansion of the cashew plantations in the region through deforestation has resulted in habitat loss, necessitating the snakes' dispersal in search of resources.