King Cobra Sightings Surge in Kerala Human Settlements: 494 Rescued in Five Years
Official Data Reveals Doubled Rescues in Four Years; Experts Urge Caution, Not Alarm
Kerala is witnessing a significant increase in king cobra sightings within human habitats, with official data revealing that 494 King Cobras (Ophiophagus kaalinga) have been rescued from populated areas across the state over the past five years. The number of rescued snakes has doubled in the last four years alone. In 2021, only 71 King Cobras were rescued, a figure that climbed to 148 by 2024. The first three months of 2025 already show a substantial increase.
The yearly breakdown of rescued King Cobras is as follows:
2021: 71
2022: 95
2023: 117
2024: 148
2025 (up to March): 63
These incidents primarily involve King Cobras found in or near homes, gardens, or backyards, which were safely rescued without harm and released back into their natural forest habitats.
According to Forest Department records, Ernakulam district reported the highest number of rescue operations with 70 cases, followed closely by Wayanad (68) and Kannur (61). Districts with the fewest reported cases include Alappuzha (two), Thiruvananthapuram (11), and Malappuram (17).
Nationally, only three deaths due to King Cobra bites have been recorded, which includes the death of A. Harshad, an animal keeper at the Thiruvananthapuram Zoo in Kerala, in 2021.