Ramu Kaviyoor

Snakebites are common in India. Unofficial estimates show that there are about 275,000 incidents of snakebites in India alone these days and between 40,000 and 50,000 people die every year. Yet officially, the figure of deaths is about 2,000.  The entire south India, Maharashtra, Bengal and Orissa account for most cases of snakebite in India. King Cobra Courtesy: www.ineedcoffee.com Although there are about 270 species of snakes in India, only a dozen are venomous. Venom-filled fangs are used for catching preys, yet when threatened, snake’s only defence is to attack in the same way. Non-venomous snakes can only injure with its teeth. Cobras, vipers and banded kraits are the villains in India. The most feared of them all is the huge king cobra, the largest venomous snake in the world that grows up to 16- The Mighty Hood of King Cobra 18 ft. Its toxicity is not as high as that of many other venomous snakes, but that is made up for in sheer volume - 7 ml is injected in t