Latest news with #KingCobras
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Role in theft of crayfish admitted
A woman who was the pivotal insider in a King Cobras crayfish crime ring worth more than $200,000 has admitted her role in the scheme. Nicola Ann Nevard, 50, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday where she pleaded guilty to more than 30 charges of theft in a special relationship and one each of money laundering and possessing Ritalin. She was employed at the Fiordland Lobster Company's Sawyers Bay depot, which processes live crayfish for export to China, and worked her way up to the position of assistant factory manager, court documents said. But between April and September last year, Nevard used her position of responsibility to skim 1597 crays, worth $212,487. Her contact in the criminal underworld was 36-year-old patched King Cobras member Paul Faavaoga. He would place orders via cellphone message — often for 60-80 at a time — and Nevard would pack the seafood into polystyrene bins using ice gel and woodwool to keep them chilled. According to court documents, at times she would load the produce into her vehicle for delivery and on other occasions she used a local courier. Faavaoga airfreighted the bulk of the crayfish to associates around the country. In August, when the scam was it its peak, he placed one order for 110 crays — such a large amount that Nevard had to arrange a company truck to transport them from the factory. She resigned from her job when she became aware the Ministry for Primary Industries was investigating the rort. Banking records, obtained by the authorities in the course of the probe, revealed Nevard made cash deposits to her account and also had third parties deposit money. "On many occasions the same day she received these funds she transferred almost identical amounts to her stepmother's bank account," a police summary said. The payments were noted as "mortgage". Police discovered Nevard's home was owned by her stepmother and that the defendant received $5570 for the stolen seafood. When a search warrant was executed at her home, officers found 83 Ritalin tablets in a toiletries bag in her bedroom. The class-B controlled drug is used to treat ADHD, but is also used recreationally as a stimulant, known to produce feelings of euphoria and increased focus. While Nevard's home was being raided — during what was dubbed "Operation Larry" — police and Fisheries officers also descended on the King Cobras' Dunedin pad in David St. Faavaoga had been paying the mortgage on that property for a significant period and almost a quarter of the repayments over a three-year span had been funded by crayfish cash. In April, he pleaded guilty to 29 charges of receiving and two of money laundering. The court heard Faavaoga unwittingly left a trail for investigators as he would complete airway cargo declaration paperwork to have the stolen seafood airfreighted to associates around the country. The recipients would usually pay by bank transfer, referenced as "crays". Faavaoga is scheduled to be sentenced in September, while Nevard was remanded on bail until her sentencing in November.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Snakelets of Spectacled Cobras keeping rescuers busy
Snakelets of Spectacled Cobras are keeping the volunteers of Friends of Snakes Society (FoSS) in Telangana busy this monsoon. The eggs of this snake species hatch from June through September. Over 2,970 out of the 5,954 snakes rescued by the Society, from January to June, were Spectacled Cobras. And 1,134 more were rescued from June to July 16. Around a week ago, a volunteer with the Society, Aditya Srinath, spent over 12 hours to rescue 23 snakelets and an adult Spectacled Cobra in Jagadgirigutta. These reptiles were found slithering in and out of a small crevice in the concrete floor between the house and a compound wall. Mr. Srinath said that the floor was hollow and that provided an ideal space to lay eggs. 'I reached there at around 7 p.m. and rescued 19 snakelets till 3 a.m. I returned the next day and rescued the remaining five,' he said. The mating season of Spectacled Cobras is from January to April and they lay eggs from March to July, said Chelmela Srinivasulu, professor at Department of Zoology, Osmania University and Director, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Studies. The incubation period is 45 to 70 days. 'August is the peak hatching period,' he said. Though the monsoon has set in, rains have not been intense. Avinash Visvanatham, general secretary of the Society said that when human movement is not restricted due to less rains, people increasingly spot snakes. P. Gowri Shankar, founder trustee of Kalinga Foundation, a non-profit research organisation, said that monsoon offers multiple ways of survival such as abundant frogs, toads, rodents, and insects, ensuring food availability for the young. 'Dense monsoon vegetation offers them shelter and concealment from predators and reduces exposure. The high-humidity monsoon environment prevents hatchling desiccation, vital during their early vulnerable phase. When many hatch at once, predator risk is distributed, reducing per-individual threat,' said Dr. Gowri Shankar, a wildlife biologist who has been studying King Cobras and other snakes for close to two decades.
News18
10-07-2025
- General
- News18
Video Of Man Holding King Cobra With Bare Hands Will Send Chills Down Your Spine
Last Updated: The video, shared by IFS Officer Praveen Kaswan, shows the man's fearless composure who calmly grips the massive King Cobra. What is the first thing you would do if you get to see a live King Cobra in front of you? That's exactly what Indian Forest Service (IFS) Officer Praveen Kaswan has wondered. The Forest Officer, who keeps stunning us with extraordinary videos from the animal kingdom, has done it again. In the latest, Kaswan shared a clip of a man holding a King Cobra with his bare hands. King Cobra is considered the world's longest venomous snake and among the heaviest. The 11-second footage, shared by Kaswan, beautifully depicts the man's fearless composure. He calmly grips the massive reptile whose enormous size has left viewers jaw-dropped. '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!!" Praveen Kaswan wrote in the caption of the video. 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 !! — Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) July 8, 2025 No wonder social media users were thrilled to watch such a clip. While the exact location of the video could not be ascertained, King Cobras are by and large found in the forests of the Western Ghats, the Northeast, and parts of Odisha. 'Q: what do you do when you see one? A: Run, run, run as far away as possible," a person wrote in the comments. 'Mostly western and eastern ghats," another user said. 'Those who get this darshan and are aware about escape velocity," an individual hilariously added. A user suggested, 'I have seen one in Western Ghats. The best thing to do is be slow and put distance between you and Cobra." In the comment section, a person named Praveen Singh dropped another King Cobra video and said that it was clicked by him in Himachal Pradesh. The video, which was taken from a distance and posted in 2021, showed the reptile crawling up a cliff. top videos View all @ParveenKaswan Ji, which Snake 'My click for a 15 feet King Kobra in Himachal Pradesh… had scored headlines in digital & print media across India," he stated. view comments First Published: July 10, 2025, 09:11 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
'Do you know real size of King Cobra and what to do when you see one?' Forest officer's viral video ignites debate
A viral video showcases a man fearlessly handling a massive King Cobra, sparking online reactions of awe and fear. The King Cobra, the world's longest venomous snake, is native to Southeast Asia and plays a vital role in its ecosystem. Another recent video featured a forest officer rescuing a King Cobra, highlighting wildlife conservation efforts in India. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 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 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 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 their lethal venom and fearsome reputation, King Cobras play an essential role in the ecosystem and generally avoid human contact unless 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.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Watch: IFS officer shares chilling video of man fearlessly holding giant King Cobra
A short video doing the rounds on social media shows a man calmly holding a massive King Cobra with his bare hands. The 11-second clip, posted by Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Parveen Kaswan, highlights both the snake's impressive size and the man's unexpected composure while handling the highly venomous reptile. Viral video shows man holding King Cobra with bare hands Kaswan, known for his informative wildlife posts, accompanied the video with a message that raises important questions: 'Ever wondered about the real size of a King Cobra? Do you know where they are found in India? And, most importantly, how should you react if you encounter one?' Watch the viral video here: — ParveenKaswan (@ParveenKaswan) King Cobra: The world's longest venomous snake The King Cobra stands out for its remarkable length, sometimes reaching up to 18 feet. It holds the title of the world's longest venomous snake and is both feared and admired for its power. Its venom is extremely strong, strong enough to kill large animals like elephants, making it one of the deadliest snakes known to humans. Where are King Cobras found in India? In India, King Cobras are mainly spotted in the Western Ghats, certain areas of Odisha, and the northeastern states. While the exact location of the video isn't mentioned, these regions are rich in wildlife, so coming across a King Cobra there wouldn't be surprising. Kerala woman forest officer's rescue also goes viral Earlier this week, a similar incident in Kerala, where a woman forest officer rescued a King Cobra from a stream near Thiruvananthapuram, also gained widespread attention. These instances emphasize the importance of professional training and knowledge in safely handling these reptiles. Thumb Image credits: X/@ParveenKaswan
