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NDTV
4 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
King Cobras Found Near Mt Everest, Here's Why Experts Are Worried
Experts have raised concerns after a total of 10 venomous snakes - nine king cobras and a Monocled cobra - were captured near Mount Everest in Nepal in a span of one and a half months, T he Kathmandu Post reported. These snakes were rescued from four different locations - Gopaleshwor, Bhanjyang, Sokhol and Fulchowk areas - officials at the Dakshinkali Municipality confirmed to the news outlet. King Cobra is the world's longest venomous snake. Its venom is not the most potent among venomous snakes, but the amount it releases in a single bite is powerful enough to kill 20 people or an elephant. Here's why their presence near Mount Everest is concerning King cobras and Monocled cobras, both snakes, are mostly found in the Tarai regions in parts of southern Nepal and northern India. As the temperature continues to rise, they are now found nesting in hilly and mountainous areas as well. "Those snakes were rescued from houses and compounds with the help of a snake rescuer and were released in the nearby forest. Locals have also found King Cobra eggs and nests in nearby jungles," Jaya Thapa Magar, chair of the municipality's ward 1, told The Kathmandu Post. The experts are worried as the presence of these snakes in colder regions could be because of climate change, with experts suggesting that rising temperatures might be driving these tropical snakes to higher altitudes. If this change continues, it will impact the region's ecosystem. Subodh Acharya, a snake rescue trainer from Mithila Wildlife Trust, Janakpur, told the outlet, "These snakes might have come to the Valley with logs and hay in trucks, but have already made habitats here." The rescued venomous snakes have been released there, with Mr Acharya urging people to be vigilant while they are in the forests. Climate change in Nepal In the past few years, Nepal has witnessed extreme weather events linked to climate change. The maximum temperature in Nepal is rising at a rate of 0.05 degrees Celsius per year. King cobras are listed as vulnerable in the National Red Data Book of Nepal and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Habitat destruction, human conflict and snakebites are significant threats to king cobra populations. A report published in March 2022 in The Lancet, which is a leading international medical journal, highlighted that incidents of snakebite and resulting deaths are common in the Tarai districts during the summer. Each year, approximately 2,700 people, mostly children and women from Nepal's Tarai region, lose their lives because of snakebites.
News18
4 days ago
- Climate
- News18
Deadly King Cobras Spotted Near Mount Everest, Experts Call It A Climate Change Sign
Last Updated: Experts believe the snakes' sudden presence in the hills and mountains may be a result of changing climate patterns. Some of the world's most venomous snakes have been turning up in the Kathmandu Valley. Over the past one and a half months, 10 highly venomous snakes – nine King Cobras and one Monocled Cobra – have been rescued from different parts of the Valley, a region which is closer to Mount Everest. According to The Kathmandu Post, officials from Dakshinkali Municipality said the King Cobras were rescued from areas like Gopaleshwor, Bhanjyang, Sokhol and Fulchowk. 'Those snakes were rescued from houses and compounds with the help of a snake rescuer and were released in the nearby forest," said Jaya Thapa Magar, chair of the municipality's ward 1. Locals have also reported spotting cobra nests and eggs in nearby jungles. King Cobras, the world's longest venomous snakes, usually live in dense forests of India, Southeast Asia and the Philippines. It is extremely rare for them to appear in the cooler, high-altitude areas of Nepal. The Monocled Cobra, known for the circular marking on its hood, is typically found in lowlands and wetlands. 'These snakes might have come to the Valley with logs and hay in trucks but have already made habitats here," Subodh Acharya, a snake rescue trainer from Mithila Wildlife Trust, Janakpur, told the outlet. He said he has rescued king cobras from several areas of the Valley, including Dakshinkali, Syuchatar, Gokarna, Godawari and the Sisneri area of Makwanpur. Experts believe the snakes' sudden presence in the hills and mountains may be a result of changing climate patterns. Nepal is among the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and has seen more extreme weather over the past 15 years. Data shows that the maximum temperature in Nepal is rising by 0.05°C every year which is faster than the rise in minimum temperature which is 0.03°C annually. According to the report citing meteorologists, hilly and mountain districts are warming faster than the Tarai that is possibly helping these snakes adapt and survive in new areas. To address the growing risk, the country's Ministry of Health and Population has expanded snakebite treatment centres to over a dozen locations in the hills. Officials have also stocked these centres with anti-snake venom imported from India. The antivenom treats bites from four common snakes: the common cobra, common krait, Russell's viper and saw-scaled viper. However, the saw-scaled viper is not yet found in Nepal. The report mentioned that bites from pit vipers in mountain areas are also on the rise. Current antivenoms are not effective against pit viper venom. First Published:
