Captured King Cobra turned over to zoo

A MONTH after its capture,  a six-foot  female King Cobra was turned over to the Cebu City Zoo yesterday.

The deadly reptile was found by 19-year-old Norman Ardoña and his  friend Rodel Sibunghanoy while they were  hunting for frogs in a riverbank in sitio Pung-ol in the hinterland barangay of Malubog , Cebu City last month.

In an interview at the Ardoña’s home, Norman’s 32-year-old sister Sharon said her  brother and Rodel caught the snake and tied its mouth with a string.

The snake was placed in a sack and left to hang in a tree.

Sharon said they didn’t know it was a King Cobra  when they reported their find to barangay councilor Epitacio Gabunada last week.

When Gabunada visited, he suspected it was a cobra but was certain of it after the sack was opened and the snake was fed with a live rat.

At that point, the snake’s hood spread out, confirming its identity.

The King Cobra was then placed inside a cage  with a smaller  “lawaan” snake captured in  a cave in Sirao.

By  Saturday,  the King Cobra had eaten its companion.

Sharon said they  took care of the King Cobra, bathing it thrice a day.

Gabunada called up the Cebu City Zoo and its manager Giovanni Romarate arrived with DENR personnel.

Romarate said a female King Cobra has a maximum length of 13 feet while the male measures 15 feet.

He said the female King Cobra will be temporarily housed  in one of their serpentariums. /Tweeny M. Malinao, Correspondent