Northern King Cobra, Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor 1836), rescue and conservation efforts in and around Assam University, Silchar, Cachar District, Assam

Abstract

We herein describe Northern King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) rescues, road mortality incidents, and
human-King Cobra conflicts in and around Assam University, Silchar, Assam, India, with the aim of assessing the
status and threats of the species in the Barak Valley. From July 2020 to December 2024, data were collected on King
Cobra rescues and mortality events by a trained two-member team. Rescue and relocation were considered secondary
options, employed only when necessary; in most cases, the snakes were allowed to disperse naturally away from human
settlements. During rescues, lengths and weights of snakes were recorded prior to release into nearby forested habitats.
A total of 49 Northern King Cobras were rescued and released over the study period. Mean length and weight of rescued
individuals was 3.1 m (1 to 4.3 m) and 5.8 kg (2.8 to 14.5 kg). Snake encounters in human-inhabited areas were
highest during April and more frequent during the pre-monsoon period than other times of year. A positive relationship
was evident between snake length and weight, indicating that each additional meter in length was associated with
an approximate increase of 3 kg in weight. We emphasize the need for further research into the ecological and biological
characteristics of this ecologically significant and charismatic species and, given the frequent human-induced mortality
driven by fear, we recommend implementation of additional conservation education and community-engagement
programs to promote coexistence and support effective conservation strategies.