Cobra Causes Panic After Slithering Into School
On 30 April, a dramatic late-night rescue mission unfolded at SSD Higher Secondary School in Gajapati district, India, when a 20-foot-long King Cobra was discovered inside a classroom.
The cobra, one of the largest venomous snakes in the world, had been sighted roaming the school compound for several days before finally entering indoors.
Alert school staff quickly acted to confine the snake inside the classroom by locking the door, preventing it from escaping while they called for professional help.
Experts Arrive for High-Stakes Rescue
Rescue members from Snake Helpline in the district, Ramachandra Sahu and Jagannath Sahu, responded swiftly to the call. Upon arrival, they found the cobra visibly agitated, emitting loud warning hisses.
The operation, which lasted about 30 minutes, required careful maneuvering as the team used specialized equipment to safely subdue the snake without harm.
Hundreds of onlookers gathered outside the school, witnessing the tense standoff between the experienced rescuers and one of the planet’s most feared reptiles.
Cobra Released Safely Back Into Wild
After being successfully captured, the King Cobra was handed over to local forest officials and released into a nearby forested area.
Wildlife officers later confirmed the snake was healthy and safely reintroduced into its natural habitat—far from human settlements.
A Close Call for the Community
Fortunately, the incident took place after school hours when no students or teachers were present, thus averting any loss of life. The timely response of the school authorities and the skilled rescue operation directly prevented the situation from becoming more dangerous.
The Snake Helpline personnel received appreciation for their bravery and cool-headedness in handling the operation, further adding to the increasingly delicate credibility of human-wildlife interactions in areas bordering forests.
The King Cobra: A Rare and Formidable Predator
People often misunderstand the King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), the world’s longest venomous snake. Adults typically grow to 10–15 feet, and in rare cases, such as the one in Gajapati, can reach up to 20 feet. Despite its name, it is a misnomer; the King Cobra is not a “true” cobra but in the family of Elapids.
With its characteristically broad hood, golden-colored head, and pale belly, this species is native to South and Southeast Asia. They inhabit tropical evergreen forests, bamboo thickets, and sometimes agricultural areas near rainforests. The snake’s neurotoxic venom is potent and can cause nervous system paralysis and respiratory failure if not treated in time.
For all its fearful reputation, the cobra mostly shies away from human contact and attacks only when provoked.
Balancing conservation and co-existence
King cobras are rarely seen in less forested parts of India, as such areas can’t support their size or habitat needs. While the sight of such a large snake can be terrifying, wildlife experts stress the need for awareness and co-existence, especially as forest areas continue to shrink.
For many in Odisha, the incident reminds them how closely wildlife and human spaces now overlap, and highlights the quiet work rescuers and conservationists do every day to protect both.
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@bbcnews The four-metre long snake was later released back into the wild. #KingCobra #School #Odisha #India #News #BBCNews
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