JNU staffers alarmed by unwelcomed visitor

Panic gripped some of the staffers at the verdant Jawaharlal Nehru University campus after a nearly four-ft-long cobra was found there, a wildlife NGO said today.
The venomous snake was spotted in the lush green campus yesterday.
"The cobra was found outside the staff quarters of JNU, causing a stir there. The snake was later rescued. It is under observation and will be released back into its natural habitat once deemed fit," an official of the Wildlife SOS said.
Kartick Satyanarayan, Wildlife SOS co-founder, said: "We have rescued several animals from JNU as the sprawling campus is located in a lush green belt and is home to a variety of wildlife, mainly reptiles, nilgais (blue bulls) and birds. It is essential that we remain sensitive to the presence of wild animals in the national capital region."

The common cobra (naja naja) is one of the four venomous snake species found in the Indian subcontinent. They are revered in the Indian mythology and culture and have been listed under the Schedule II of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972, the NGO said.
In another incident on Sunday, a nilgai fawn was rescued by the NGO from the JNU campus after it suffered severe dog bite injuries. "The young nilgai is under medical treatment for its wounds and is placed under observation," it added.
Recently, a nearly five-foot cobra was rescued from the office of the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) branch at the Dilli Haat, Pitampura.