
'Do you know real size of King Cobra and what to do when you see one?' Forest officer's viral video ignites debate
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A breathtaking video of a man confidently holding a massive King Cobra with his bare hands has gone viral, grabbing the internet's attention. The 11-second footage, shared by Indian Forest Service officer Parveen Kaswan, features the man calmly handling the enormous snake, showcasing his unshaken composure despite the reptile's intimidating size.The clip captures the awe-inspiring moment where the man grips the King Cobra firmly, its impressive length and girth astonishing viewers. "If you ever wondered about the real size of King cobra. Do you know where it is found in India? And what to do when you see one," wrote Mr Kaswan in the caption.The video has sparked a wave of online reactions. Social media users expressed a mix of admiration and fear, with many stunned by the cobra's massive size. Some shared their own encounters with the snake. One person commented, "Seen once. Was with a snake charmer. It was about 17 feet. And I wish I had never seen one again in the wild. Just the size of them is enough to give creeps."Another user wrote, "Have seen real cobra in wild, thick dark black colour and the stripes, the hiss was scary, didn't sleep well that night."A third shared safety advice, "I have seen one in the Western Ghats. The best thing to do is be slow and put distance between you and Cobra."The King Cobra is the longest venomous snake in the world, capable of growing up to 18 feet (5.5 meters). Native to Southeast Asia, including India, these snakes are typically found in dense forests with rich prey availability. In India, their presence is most common in the Western and Eastern Ghats, as well as the northeastern states such as Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh.Despite their lethal venom and fearsome reputation, King Cobras play an essential role in the ecosystem and generally avoid human contact unless provoked.In a related incident, another video recently went viral, featuring a Kerala woman forest officer fearlessly rescuing a large King Cobra from a stream near Peppara in Thiruvananthapuram. The clip received widespread praise, with viewers lauding her courage and dedication to wildlife conservation and biodiversity protection in India.

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India.com
5 days ago
- India.com
Melanistic Panther: ‘Bagheera' And Two Leopards Spotted Together In Nilgiris
New Delhi: A rare and captivating sighting of a black panther strolling alongside two normally coloured leopards has thrilled wildlife enthusiasts and forest officials in the Nilgiris region of Tamil Nadu. The footage, shared by retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Susanta Nanda on X (formerly Twitter), shows the melanistic leopard, commonly known as a black panther, walking in harmony with its two-spotted companions along a lush road in the Nilgiri hills. Nanda captioned the video, 'Bagheera, the black panther, with its two normal coloured cubs on the roads of Nilgiri, Tamil Nadu. Rare sight.' Bagheera- the black panther- with its two normal coloured cubs on the roads of Nilgiri, Tamil Nadu. Rare sight. — Susanta Nanda IFS (Retd) (@susantananda3) July 17, 2025 In the video, the striking contrast between the panther's deep black coat and the typical spotted coats of the other two leopards is visible. Such close companionship between melanistic and non-melanistic leopards is uncommon, making this encounter particularly remarkable. The footage, believed to have been recorded around midnight on July 16, quickly went viral as several social media pages reshared the extraordinary moment. Indian Forest Service officer Parveen Kaswan clarified that black panthers are not a separate species but rather a melanistic variant of the common leopard (Panthera pardus). Melanism is a genetic condition causing excess dark pigmentation, which gives the animal its black appearance. Interestingly, under certain lighting, the distinctive leopard rosettes can still be seen on their dark coats. Kaswan emphasized the importance of conservation efforts for these elusive animals, whose survival is threatened by habitat loss and poaching. Black panthers primarily inhabit tropical forests in states such as Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, and parts of Northeast India. The Nilgiris, part of the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats and a UNESCO World Heritage site, have recorded melanistic leopards before through camera traps, but live sightings remain rare. This recent sighting adds valuable insight into the behavior and presence of these elusive cats in the region.


Time of India
18-07-2025
- Time of India
Rare black panther spotted with leopard pals in Nilgiris sparks ‘Jungle Book' nostalgia online: ‘Bagheera is looking for Sher Khan'
In a magical moment captured in Nilgiris, a black panther was spotted strolling with two leopards, stunning wildlife lovers and evoking Jungle Book memories. Shared by IFS officer Parveen Kaswan, the video drew emotional reactions online, with users quipping, 'They're looking for Sher Khan!' Experts stress that such rare sightings underline the urgency of leopard conservation. A rare video from Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris has gone viral, showing a black panther—often likened to Bagheera from The Jungle Book—walking alongside two spotted leopards. Shared by IFS officer Parveen Kaswan, the sighting left netizens amazed, sparking nostalgia and wonder. (Screenshots: X/ @ParveenKaswan ) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A Scene Rarer Than Fiction Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 'They're Looking for Sher Khan!' The Panther's Perilous Path In the shadowed forests of the Nilgiris, a scene straight out of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book came alive—leaving wildlife lovers spellbound and the internet abuzz with emotion and awe. A majestic black panther, reminiscent of the beloved Bagheera, was caught on camera taking a moonlit stroll alongside two spotted leopards , evoking both wonder and 29-second clip was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Indian Forest Service officer Parveen Kaswan, who aptly captioned it, 'Bagheera and other friends for a night walk on the roads of Nilgiris. What a rare thing.' Within hours, the video began doing the rounds on social media, drawing parallels with the animated world of Mowgli and his jungle the wild, leopards are solitary by nature. Catching even one on camera is often a matter of luck, patience, and persistence. But this brief sighting—showing not one, but three leopards walking together, one of them melanistic—is a wildlife black panther, known scientifically as a melanistic leopard , is not a separate species but a genetic variation of the Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca). As IFS officer Kaswan explained in a follow-up post, 'These animals appear black due to a genetic condition called melanism, which results in excess dark pigmentation. Despite their dark coats, their characteristic leopard rosettes are often visible under certain lighting conditions.'What makes this particular video stand out is the rare documentation of a melanistic leopard moving in sync with two regular-patterned leopards. Such visual harmony among these elusive cats in the same frame, and in the open, is almost unheard many netizens, the video was more than just a wildlife moment—it stirred up memories from childhood. One user commented, 'I remember Baghira from Mowgli. Such a cute character.' Another wrote with a mix of humour and imagination, 'They are looking for Sher Khan.' Others were in awe of the animal's natural grace, calling it the 'ultimate nocturnal predator.'In a digital world often saturated with chaos, this fleeting glimpse into the tranquil, untamed wild offered a moment of pure connection—between nature, memory, and the internet marvelled, Kaswan didn't let the moment pass without a reminder of the growing threats to these magnificent creatures. 'Conservation efforts are vital for their survival,' he noted. 'They face threats like habitat loss and poaching.'The Indian leopard, agile and fiercely adaptable, has often been a silent survivor amidst urban expansion and shrinking forests. Capable of leaping over 6 meters, running at speeds over 58 km/h, and even swimming when necessary, it is the smallest of the four 'big cats' under the Panthera genus—yet arguably the most with viral moments like this one, the silent grace of these animals may no longer remain unseen. Perhaps, like Kipling's stories, this moment too can inspire a deeper sense of wonder and responsibility toward our shared wild heritage.


India Today
18-07-2025
- India Today
Black panther's night out with 2 leopards in Nilgiris stuns Internet. Watch rare video
Wildlife enthusiasts were treated to a rare glimpse from the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu after a video of a black panther walking alongside two spotted leopards went viral on social 29-second clip, shared by Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Parveen Kaswan, offered a rare look at these elusive creatures moving together in the clip shows two typically patterned leopards walking side by side with a melanistic leopard, commonly known as a black panther. Such a sighting is exceptionally rare as these cats are usually Sharing the video in a post on X, Kaswan wrote, 'Bagheera (black panther) and other friends for a night walk on the roads of Nilgiris. What a rare thing.'Take a look at Kaswan's post here:Watch the video here: In a follow-up post, Kaswan explained that black panthers are not a separate species but a melanistic variation of the Indian leopard (Panthera pardus).Melanism is a genetic condition that results in dark pigmentation, which gives the panther its striking black coat. Under certain lighting, the signature rosettes of leopards are faintly visible on their fur.'In India, a black panther is a melanistic variant of the common leopard (Panthera pardus). These animals appear black due to a genetic condition called melanism, which results in excess dark pigmentation. Despite their dark coats, their characteristic leopard rosettes are often visible under certain lighting conditions,' he further pointed out that these big cats face severe threats from habitat loss and poaching, which makes conservation crucial for their survival.'They are often found with normal leopard also. But here documentation of a melanistic with two normal is rare. Conservation efforts are vital for their survival, as they face threats like habitat loss and poaching,' he social media users reshared the clip, believed to have been filmed around midnight on July 16. The rare sight ignited admiration and nostalgia online. 'I remember Bagheera from Mowgli. Such a cute character,' a user said, while another quipped, 'It seems they are on an important mission.'See what users are saying here:The Nilgiris, part of the Western Ghats and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna.- Ends