By  Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati : A gigantic King cobra weighing 33 kilograms and 14 ft long was captured in the Jiajuri Tea plantation, Chapanaola, Nagaon on today. The Cobra was spotted two days back by the tea garden labourers and animal rescuer Dulu Bora , who was hired by the garden management. He captured the snake after an effort of three hours and it is believed to be one the longest and heaviest ever caught in Assam of that species. It was later relapsed in Swang reserve Forest nearby. King cobras can reach 18 feet in length, making them the longest of all venomous snakes. When confronted, they can raise up to one-third of their bodies straight off the ground and still move forward to attack. They will also flare out their iconic hoods and emit a bone-chilling hiss that sounds almost like a growling dog, said the National Geographic Web Site.

Their venom is not the most potent among venomous snakes, but the amount of neurotoxin they can deliver in a single bite—up to two-tenths of a fluid ounce—is enough to kill 20 people or even an elephant. Fortunately, king cobras are shy and will avoid humans whenever possible, but they are fiercely aggressive when cornered, National Geographic said. King cobras live mainly in the rain forests and plains of India, southern China, and Southeast Asia, and their colouring can vary greatly from region to region. They are comfortable in the trees, on land, and in water, feeding mainly on other snakes, venomous and nonvenomous. They will also eat lizards, eggs, and small mammals. They are the only snakes in the world that build nests for their eggs, which they guard ferociously until the hatchlings emerge. King cobras may be best known as the species of choice for the snake charmers of South Asia. Although cobras can hear, they are actually deaf to ambient noises, sensing ground vibrations instead. The charmer’s flute entices the cobra by its shape and movement, not by the music it emits, said National Geographic.