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Monocled Cobra

Naja kaouthia

Photo by Dan Doucette
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

A snake charmer's cobra

Habitat:

urban

Notes:

I spotted this snake charmer along the Ghats in Varanasi. I really wanted to see a snake charmer while in India and Varanasi was the only place I saw this. I have heard that snake charmers de fang their snakes so they can't bite. After taking a few photos, this charmer insisted I hold the cobra. I resisted but then he just put it around my neck and gave me a red sand boa to hold in my hand. I wasn't scared but it was more of an experience than I expected.

Reference Links:

Monocled Cobra

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (7)
Ashish
Dan we never see closed mouth free snake, check all wild snakes must open mouths when they have close encounter.
Dan Doucette
I totally agree Ashish. This was just something I had to see while in India. Thankfully I did only see it once while traveling around the country for 4 months.
Dan Doucette
HemantKumar, I think you are right. I was trying to find information on juvenile cobras to see if they were this color. I was just going by what the charmer said. Thanks, I will update this. Ashish, I don't think it's mouth was sewed but you might be right. I do think it was defanged.
Ashish
I hate such people try to make money by harming and possess captivated animals ( such removing teeth and sew jaw of Cobras) and innocent snakes are easy hunt for them from rural area.
HemantKumar
nice but 3rd pic looks like "red send boa"
Ashish
Must be Cobra's moth sewed otherwise it won't let you go easily..!!

Tags

Photographed
PublishedJuly 8, 2011

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