Rare, deadly albino cobra slithers into home during rainstorm in India

By Emily Mae Czachor

May 17, 2023 / 5:31 PM / CBS News

A rare and venomous snake was found inside a home in southern India earlier this month, wildlife officials said.

The albino cobra, measuring five feet long, slithered into the house during a spell of heavy rain. It was rescued and examined before ultimately being released back into the wild, the Wildlife and Nature Conservation Trust, an Indian nonprofit organization, wrote on Facebook. Members of the trust turned the cobra over to forest rangers after collecting it from the home.

The organization also shared a video of the release on its social media page — it shows the large ivory-colored snake emerging rapidly from a paper bag on a patch of grass before zooming off into the forest.

The 5-foot long Albino Cobra, which was rescued by WNCT from Kurichi neighbourhood today (03/05/2023) was later released into the wild in the forest areas surrounding Mangarai, a small hamlet in Perianaickenpalayam block of Coimbatore, in the foothills of Anaikatti at around 8.00 pm. After the rescue, the albino cobra snake was taken to a safe location and assessed by experts to determine its condition. Once it was deemed healthy and fit for release, the snake was released into the wild. The forest areas surrounding Mangarai, where the snake was released, are known for their rich biodiversity and provide a suitable habitat for the snake to thrive.Releasing it into its natural habitat ensures that the snake can continue to live its life without any disturbance. It is also an essential step in the conservation of the species, as it helps maintain the ecological balance of the region.

With flattened heads and distinctive hoods, cobras are notoriously dangerous creatures whose venom can cause paralysis and even death in humans if bites are not treated in a timely manner.

"It is crucial to handle these snakes with great care and expertise, as any mistake can lead to severe consequences," the Wildlife and Nature Conservation Trust said. As the organization noted, the albino cobra is a particularly rare breed of snake. Their white or yellow-toned appearance gives them an unusual look, which is caused by a genetic abnormality that results in a lack of melanin pigment in their skin. Albino cobras are not typically seen in southern India.

The rescue on May 3 is just one of several that were reported by India's Wildlife and Nature Conservation Trust since the beginning of the month. In the last week alone, wildlife officials found and rescued at least three other large, venomous and potentially deadly snakes spotted in neighborhoods across the southern Indian province of Tamil Nadu.

On May 10, a two-foot-long common krait was rescued from a property not far from the home where the albino cobra was found. Like the cobra, the common krait's bite is also highly poisonous.

"The consequences of a bite from a Common Krait can include intense pain, swelling, paralysis of the respiratory muscles, and even death," wildlife officials said.

Three days later, an Indian cobra, measuring three feet long, was found and rescued from a property about 50 miles away. Also known as the "spectacled cobra," the Indian cobra is seen throughout India and in parts of southeast Asia. The Indian cobra poses a particular threat to humans, as its venom, although generally used to hunt prey, is especially toxic.

Around the same time as the Indian cobra was discovered, another snake, a Russell's viper measuring four feet long, was found and later released after being spotted on a property in southern India. The nature conservation trust characterized the viper as "one of the most venomous snakes in India," noting that the creature can grow up to seven feet long.

First published on May 17, 2023 / 5:31 PM