Where did King Cobra come from?

WAS the cobra that bit a zookeeper last Tuesday the small snake donated inside a mineral bottle by a concerned citizen two years ago?

A photo of the donated snake was taken by Cebu Daily News during the turnover on Jan. 2, 2010.

However, Giovani Romarate, Cebu City zoo manager, said the cobra that bit zookeeper Ronaldo Aventurado on Tuesday came from outside and that after its capture, was first one in the zoo’s custody.

“We had pythons and other snakes before but never a cobra until this one was caught,” Romarate said.

Dr. Alice Utlang, Cebu City Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries chief, confirmed Romarate’s statement.

The CDN photo of the turnover showed Romarate accepting what appeared to be a small cobra inside a big mineral water bottle donated by a resident Giovanni Contreras.

The snake was found Dec. 23, 2009 in a pineapple crate at pier 5 shipped from Mindanao and turned over Jan. 2, 2010.

Also seen in the photo is Cebu City collector Mary Quijano standing in between Contreras and Romarate.

Romarate frist denied the turnover in a phone interview but later confirmed it after being shown the CDN photo.

“I remember that photo. But that was not a cobra. It was something else. We are not sure but I think it’s a rat snake,” he said. Utlang said the donation was “ not reported to us”.

Contreras, an automotive mechanic, said he was told the snake died last year but he had second thoughts after learning in the news about a zookeeper bitten by a cobra. Maybe it escaped so they said it died, he said.

Soham Murkerjee, a snake expert of the Humane Society International, who visited the zoo yesterday said he couldn’t confirm if the snake in the photo was the same type that bit the zookeeper.

“It’s very difficult to confirm. It can be a rat snake, too because I really doubt the snake’s survival in that habitat for two years.”

He confirmed the captured snake was a “sub adult” King Cobra.

The zoo management plans to keep the cobra as an additional attraction but was advised against it.

“It is not safe. The place is not ready for a King Cobra and don’t think the snake will survive. They should release it to its natural habitat,” Murkerjee said.

He said the aquarium used was “too small” for the 6-foot cobra.

“I think the aquarium is only 3×1/2 feet in diameter. It should be bigger, at least 6×3 ½ feet,” he added.