It may be offensive to people if they were named or nicknamed after their eating habits, but that is precisely how our mighty king cobra got its name. King Cobra – Ophiophagus hannah. Ophio means snake and phagus means eating. King cobras are primarily snake eaters but occasionally feed on monitor lizards.
Rat snakes(Ptyas mucosa), Common cobras(Naja naja) and Pythons (Python molurus) are among their well known prey. But the king cobra radio telemetry study in Agumbe made a remarkable discovery where king cobras were observed to be feeding on Malabar pit vipers(Trimeresurus malabaricus) and Humpnosed pit vipers(Hypnale hypnale).Prior to this it was hard to reckon that a 12 feet king cobra would care to expend energy to hunt a 3 feet pit viper for a meal!
This article “Observations on a Wild King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), with Emphasis on Foraging and Diet: Dhiraj Bhaisare, Vipul Ramanuj, P.Gowri Shankar, M.Vittala, Matt Goode, and Rom Whitaker” published in IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians • Vol 17, wild king cobra No 2 • JUN 2010 discusses this in detail. Download paper.
Like most reptiles king cobras are opportunistic. Our observations typically indicate that king cobras feed at an interval of approximately 15-20 days but this varies. For e.g. they usually feed soon after ecdysis(shedding
of skin that happen approx. 7-8 times a year), king cobras do not feed for days during breeding season, a gravid female king cobra may eat only after building her nest, laying eggs and securing it (which might take more than a month), during monsoons the king cobra may feed more than thrice a week depending on the size of the prey. Only detailed studies can present any pattern or offer definitive explanations.
Watching a king cobra hunt and devour its prey is awe-inspiring and warrants attention.
King cobras rarely hunt in ambush. Instead they stalk their prey, chase after them in hot pursuit and then grab them close to neck (sometimes mid body too). But their strategies may vary while hunting a venomous snake, e.g. Cobra(Naja naja) where they will avoid being bitten back. Captive breeders also mention about them avoiding long fanged snakes like the Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii).
Once captured no prey is match to a king cobras size, strength or the quantity of venom. However powerful the struggle may be, in most cases it is the king cobra that triumphs. It then starts jaw-walking i.e. starts moving its jaws in a chewing motion towards the head of the prey without loosening its grip and then swallows head down.
The below video explains the feeding behaviour. It is an excerpt from the film ‘Secrets of King cobra’ by the National Geographic Channel (NGC).
When I get such a rescue call it is a true test of my skills. This means the rescue has to be done really quick, with precision and minimal stress; else it may regurgitate its meal (a method of escape adopted by many reptiles). The king cobra in the below image had taken refuge after a meal for more than four days in the attic and was not noticed until it defecated.
This rescue was not only a test to my rescuing skills but also my agility and acrobatic skills!
Until recently it was believed that king cobras always ate freshly caught prey. But this was proven wrong when I observed a king cobra eating the carcass of a road-killed rat snake. Though the king cobra retreated after being disturbed by traffic it came back the next day to finish its meal. This behaviour was confirmed by the radio telemetry team who observed the radio tracked individual eating the carcass of a cat snake (Boiga sp.).
It is only during the mating season that king cobras are spotted in close proximity to one another else they steer clear from each other’s path fearing being eaten up.
I was called for a rescue call in a cow shed where a large male king cobra had bitten a smaller one and was engaged in probably the last fight. During the tussle a buffalo calf was bitten by the larger male. The smaller king cobra succumbed and was eaten by the larger male.
We also observed cannibalistic behaviour in two mating pairs in 2008. In both cases the male killed the female, regurgitated and left the scene. The motive behind this killing is not clear but does not indicate feeding.
Like most reptiles, king cobras start hunting as soon as they hatch. King cobra hatchlings are believed to survive on small snakes. But very little is known about the feeding habits of juvenile king cobras in the wild. Studies are needed to uncover this facet of a king cobras life.
The king cobra is the top predator among snakes and an apt indicator of the health of herpetofauna in its habitat. As a flag ship species its protection is imperative and most necessary today.
Authors: Sharmila & Gowri Shankar
.
Some content on this page was disabled on February 5, 2018 as a result of a DMCA takedown notice from Lori King. You can learn more about the DMCA here:
A well researched, and written article with some amazing pics and videos on this interesting King Cobra diet. Thanks!
Thank you Vijay.
Outstanding uncovering of KC’s lifestyle. Hats off to you for rescueing the King carefullu, But, be youreslf safe too.. Keep it up. jai Kalinga 🙂
Thanks Sunil.
Super stuff! Great read.
Hope all is well.
Regards…….Minakshi
Village Bhakrakot, P.O. Mohan (via Ramnagar),
Dist. Almora. Uttarakhand – 244715
INDIA
Mobile: (Ritish) 91-8650350756/ 9411107749 (Minakshi) 91-8954942516
Website: http://www.campforktailcreek.com
Thanks Minakshi. How are you both doing?
Regards
Gowri
Wow! That video of the king cobra eating a rat snake is pretty amazing. I had no idea they were so big.
Oh yes Rachel, they do grow pretty long. Do check out the complete film featured on NGC .
Very nice article Gowri. I follow all your posts and they never ceases to amaze me
Looking forward to another volunteering stint at ARSS
Cheers
Girish
Thank you Girish. I am now in Blore pursuing my PhD course work. All the best with your volunteering.
Excellent piece of work, Gowri!
Thanks Bill.
Wonderful first hand experience, thanks for the article…
Thank you and welcome 🙂
Good Article Gowri… I see the kinda efforts that goes in to rescue a King Cobra and conservation of their habitat… Great Job…
Thanks Joseph.
Gowri i didnt know you had a blog. i am happy to have stumbled upon it. Great read!
Thanks Richa. Thanks for reading.
Excellent write up. Lots of information !!
Thank you
Gowri Shankar, this is fantastic insight, kudos to your excellent work and dedication. Good luck and look forward to more of your postings….
Regards,
Adhikari
Thank you
Very Good work. Doing a great job. THANKS.
Thank you
great sir. I am great fan of you and also want to work with you.
Regards. ————– Rushikesh
Lakshminarayan pura,Mastgarh , Old Jalna PIN-431203,Maharshtra.
Contact No: 09763979198.
Thank you Rushikesh. Contact info@rainforestecology.com if you are keen on interning. All the best.
Hello sir
its a nice article with lots of information and amazing pictures.
Thanks for tat
Hello Sir,
i am a big fan of yours after i watched the nat geo – The Secrets Of King Cobra. The Interest you have shown in tracking their habitat and protecting them in the wild and also from man encounters are simply great. Keep the amazing work going. Awaiting on many of your informative blogs.
Regards
Shakthi Ganesh
Thank you Shakthi
Awesome as always, thoroughly researched & nice rare pics too. i have watched all your shows. great work gowri
Thank you
Its a good article, Thank u both Gowri and Sharmila for such good info, I just love King Cobras.
Thank you Sowmya
Hi Gowri, Very informative article and superb photos I read your all your articles as always and also learning more and more..Thanks.
Planning for crocbank in June..Let us meet.
This is a very good write-up. Thanks to both of you for sharing 🙂 Hope you all are doing good
Thanks Vipul, all of us are doing good. Trust the same from you too. We keep getting updates about your and Bikenhike on facebook. Good going, keep it up.
Regards
Sharmila & Gowri
Excellent and valuable of piece of info..
Great work Gowri sir, lookin forward to yar postings..
Regard
Karthik singh
Thanks Karthik.
Hi Gowri,
Thanks for this informative article. I learnt a few more things about King Cobra after reading your article. I thought King Cobra only feeds on Rat snakes and smaller Pythons even though I had seen one video, where a bigger male King cobra killed and then tried to swallow a smaller female King Cobra but it regurgitated it.
Today I came to know that King Cobras even feed on common cobras and vipers. This is good piece of information. King Cobra of India and Black Mamba of Africa are my favourite snakes. I like them for being so deadly.
I wish I could do, what you guys do, I mean rescuing snakes though I am scared but I still want to do it but don’t know how.
But anyways, you guys keeping doing, what you guys are doing. You guys are the true heroes of India and not those people(actors) who come on television.
Thanks,
Saveen.
Jai Hind.
Thank you Saveen. You could still come out of that fear by learning more about them. Our STORM workshops are meant for this. Do check it out under https://pogirigowrishankar.wordpress.com/workshops-camps/.
All the best.
Regards
Gowri
[…] [ Pic Credit : Sharmila, Kings Platter ] […]
A well researched, by you or your group . Outstanding uncovering of king cobra . your website is to amazing. i am 13 years old i have files of snake pics i all colect from google but never no deeply about king cobra. one request to you can you send more in formation to my gmail account my gmail e-mail id is sgond2020@gmail.com. my best animals are snake ,so i am telling you to please kindly send more information to my e-mail id
tnanking you or your website
saurabh
Hey there gowri sir, never knew u had a blog..watched u in ngc wen i ws a child.hapie to read ua blog..stay safe..nd may god bless u fo d noble work u do..convey my regards to sharmila mam..
[…] (Source: A Kings Platter) […]