King cobra treated after deep abdominal injury

Mangaluru: A 12-foot King Cobra weighing about 10kg, found with a deep abdominal injury near Aranthodu in the Sullia range, was rescued, treated, and released back into the wild recently.The snake was first spotted by rescuer Mohan near Aranthodu Biliyaru. Acting swiftly, he alerted the Sullia forest department, which took custody of the injured reptile and transported it to Mangaluru for urgent medical care.At the CARE Wildlife wing, veterinary experts Dr Yashaswi Naravi and Dr Meghana Pemmaiah led the treatment. According to Sullia range forest officer Manjunath, the snake had a deep injury when it arrived.Dr Yashaswi explained that the male King Cobra suffered a deep cut in the abdominal region, though the exact cause of the injury remains unknown. "The snake was brought to us through the forest department. It had a severe wound that required immediate surgical intervention. We had to administer anaesthesia, perform suturing, and carefully monitor its recovery," she said.Following a successful surgery and two days of intensive care, the cobra showed signs of recovery. "This is probably the longest and heaviest King Cobra we have treated so far. After being declared fit, it was handed back to the forest department. The King Cobra was released back into its natural habitat at the same location where it was originally found, restoring it safely to the wild," Dr Yashaswi said.