Current Summary
Uttarakhand's Nainital district is emerging as a key refuge for king cobras, according to the Uttarakhand Forest Department's Research Centre. A nest found in 2012 near Mukteshwar, at 2,300 metres above sea level, is believed to be the highest known king cobra nest in the world. The species was first recorded in the western Himalaya at Bhimtal, near Nainital, in 2006. Chief Conservator of Forests Sanjeev Chaturvedi said the Research Centre began studying king cobras in 2021 using sighting records from 2015 to 2020, which showed 83 reports from Nainital Forest Division, 32 from Dehradun, 12 from Pauri, three from Uttarkashi and two from Haridwar. Research has found that Uttarakhand's king cobras are genetically distinct from populations in the Western Ghats, where the species is more commonly associated. Chaturvedi said vehicular movement is the biggest threat to the snakes, with five killed after being run over between 2022 and 2024, while young cobras face predation from the yellow-throated marten, vultures and eagles. A female king cobra may remain with her nest for 70 to 75 days without eating to protect her young.
What We Know
- A king cobra nest near Mukteshwar in Nainital, found in 2012, is believed to be the world's highest known at 2,300 metres
- The species was first recorded in the western Himalaya at Bhimtal in 2006
- Nainital Forest Division recorded 83 sightings between 2015 and 2020, the highest among state divisions
- Uttarakhand's king cobras are genetically distinct from Western Ghats populations
- Vehicular strikes killed five king cobras between 2022 and 2024
- Young cobras face predation from martens, vultures and eagles
What Is Still Unclear
- Current total population estimate of king cobras in Uttarakhand
- Specific conservation measures planned to reduce vehicle strikes
What Changed
- 21 Oct, 08:31 pmSignal detected: Nainital Emerges as King Cobra Refuge With World's Highest Recorded Nest