Rare occurrence: King Cobra from Uttarakhand rescued in Delhi’s Chanakyapuri | VIDEO | Delhi News

Delhi News

On Tuesday, forest officials rescued a 10-foot king cobra from a tree in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. This marks the first sighting of the venomous snake in the capital, likely transported from Uttarakhand via a construction materials vehicle.

King Cobra rescued from Delhi’s Chanakyapuri.
(Image: Screengrab | X/@Abhisheknayan81)

New Delhi: On Tuesday, the forest and wildlife department successfully rescued a king cobra from a tree in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, marking the first documented sighting of this highly venomous snake in the national capital.

The king cobra, measuring approximately 10 feet in length, was discovered near the under-construction Uttarakhand Bhawan. Forest officials believe the snake may have inadvertently traveled to Delhi in a vehicle transporting construction materials from Uttarakhand. The species is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

WATCH | ‘Challenging’ rescue operation

Rajesh Tandon, deputy range officer of the West Wildlife Division, described the rescue efforts. “Upon receiving reports of a snake sighting, we quickly rushed to the scene. The king cobra was perched high in a tree,” Tandon recounted as per an Economic Times report. The forest department called in the Delhi Fire Services, which deployed two fire tenders. Utilising a hydraulic ladder, the team reached the branch where the cobra had taken refuge, and a wildlife expert skillfully used a snake hook to secure the animal. Tandon referred to the operation as “challenging.”

राजधानी दिल्ली स्थित बिहार भवन के पास निकाला किंग कोबरा सांप, दमकल की टीम ने किया कड़ी मशक्कत के बाद रेस्क्यू। #fireteam #Kingcobra #Delhinews pic.twitter.com/yZZ1ImdLvc

— Abhishek Nayan (ABP News) (@Abhisheknayan81) October 2, 2024

The dramatic rescue attracted significant attention, with a video of the operation circulating widely on social media. A crowd gathered to watch, with many residents capturing the moment from their balconies and applauding the team’s efforts.

Snake to be released in Rajaji National Park: Official

Currently, the king cobra is being housed at a forest department rescue facility. Tandon explained, “This is the first sighting of a king cobra in Delhi. It’s believed the reptile crawled into a vehicle from Uttarakhand and ended up here.” He confirmed that the snake will be released into Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand, as the urban environment of Delhi is unsuitable for its survival.

Parts of Uttarakhand witnesses increase in Cobra sighting

Gaurav Barhadiya, an assistant professor in the environmental studies department at Ramanujan College, University of Delhi, noted that king cobra populations in Uttarakhand have been increasing. In recent years, there has been an increase in snake sightings in regions such as Dehradun and Mussoorie. It is believed that a specific snake may have taken shelter in a vehicle to manage its temperature during a trip to Delhi. Importantly, king cobras are not found in Delhi, as the city does not provide a suitable habitat for them.

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