16-ft king cobra rescued in Odisha village, released in forest

A 16-feet king cobra was rescued by forest officials today from Pendarabadi village in Odisha's Ganjam district and released in the natural habitat of Changudidei hill under Digapahandi forest range area, forest officials said.

The villagers noticed the snake in a farm field and informed the forest department staff, who rushed to the spot with the volunteers of Peoples For Animal and rescued it.

It was later released in the nearby Changudidei hill area, said forest range officer of Digapahandi, Paramananda Panigrahi.

The length of the rescued king cobra was around 16 feet and a female, the PFA spokesman said.

The king cobra is a species of poisonous snake and the world's longest venomous snake.

He said the animal welfare organisation had rescued three king cobras from the area in the last one year and all of them were released in Changudidei hill. A 12-feet king cobra was rescued from Bhramarapur and another measuring 18 feet from Pudamari area.

Besides the king cobras, the forest and PFA personnel had rescued at least two rock pythons from the area in the last six months, he added.