GIANT COBRAS
MOST VENOMOUS SERPENTS
HOMERIC FIGHT IN CAGE
Of special interest -are some recent arrivals at the London Zoo reptilehouse. The most •outstanding newcomers are a pair of giahi;'-.specimens of the hamadryad, or king -cobra, from Malaya, which have been, presented by Mr St. Alban • Smith ." The largest specimen measures nearly 13ft. in length, while the smaller measures 9ft. 9in.... :
The king cobra is , the largest of its tribe that holds the distinction of being the world’s.-most-venomous serpent. It is,- moreover,', unusually intelligent and courageous. Whereas other species of cobra prefer retreat to combat, the king cobra seldom hesitates to show fight. It will even give chase to the. intruder, and on some occasions may travel at a speed of some ten miles an hour. The reptile is a cannibal, ■ feeding on other-species; of snake, but sometimes varying its diet with monitor ligru'ds. An Bft.-long python was injudiciously included in the same packing-case a» the new giant cobras, and on the journey .a homeric fight ensured between tlie larger cobra and the constrictor. The cobra appar&ntly embedded its •fangs into the pythp.n,..which in retallatioji exerted its constricting powers to the fullest extent. Although the former did not escape without some slight injuries, it emerged victorious from the contest, the poison which it injected taking effect before its adversary’s coils had achieved a sufficiently deadly stranglehold. .. , ; The peculair diet of the hamadryad once cost the Zoological Society some £25,, When the first specimen arrived at the zoo many years ago a keeper, ignorant of the snake’s feeding habits, placed it for the fiist night after its arrival in a cage containing six ordinary cobras. The latter, received on deposit ''from a,-dealer, had all disappeared within the gaint by the morning, the “king” having evidently regarded them as welcome fare after a prolonged fast aboard ship.
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Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1933, Page 3
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305GIANT COBRAS Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1933, Page 3
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