Conservationists urge locals to protect rare king cobra

Galeshwor: Efforts are underway to protect a rare species of snake called ‘king cobra’ found in the Koshepani forest at Ghatan of Beni municipality-9. The spot of the rare species of reptile has drawn a growing number of visitors to take its glimpse.
Side by a side, the Road Division Forest Office held an extensive interaction on public awareness for the protection of animal with the participation of locals. The office decided to take an intervention for its conservation after some people tried to chase away the reptile by setting fire.
Students and teachers of Rastriya Secondary School, people’ representatives and locals were imparted information and knowledge about the ecological importance of snake and the ways for its conservation. The awareness programme was facilitated by Chairman of Snake Conservation Society Nepal Mahendra Prasad Katila, Division Forest Office assistant forest officer Bimala Lamsal and Division Forest Officer Harish Chandra Sapkota.
Zoologist and teacher at Tribhuvan Multiple Campus Palpa, Keshab Chokhal, first spotted the cobra king in the Koshepani forest. According to him, one of the rarest in Nepal, the king Cobra, was seen in the mid hilly areas of late. Efforts from the government and community levels are needed to protect it, he asserted. In Nepali, it is known as Kalinag or ‘Rajnag’.
Snake expert and research officer at Himalayan Nature Jiban Thapa confirmed the found snake as the king cobra. The snake, listed in the IUCN Red List of threatened species, is protected by Nepal’s law.
King cobra (Ophiophagus Hannah) which is commonly found in Tarai and protected areas, is lately migrating to mid-hilly areas largely due to climate change, said Chokhal. The snake is found in 16 countries of South Asia and South East Asia. The snake, which preys on the snakes of the species, is rarely found elsewhere except in Thailand forests, said Thapa.