# Cobra — Facts, Threats & Conservation

*Multiple elapid genera — Naja (true cobras), Ophiophagus (king cobra) and related hooded species*

> Cobras are hooded venomous elapid snakes of Africa and Asia — including true cobras (Naja) and the king cobra — neurotoxic predators vital for rodent control but threatened by persecution and habitat loss.

**IUCN status:** Varies by species (Least Concern to Vulnerable)  ·  **WARN range:** Africa, Asia, Middle East

## Quick facts
| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Venom type | Mostly neurotoxic |
| Hood | Threat display — expanded neck ribs |
| King cobra | Up to ~5.5 m; eats other snakes |
| Spitting species | Several African and Asian Naja |
| Range | Africa, Middle East, Asia |
| King cobra IUCN | Vulnerable |

## Scientific classification
- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Reptilia
- **Order:** Squamata
- **Family:** Elapidae
- **Genera:** Naja (true cobras), Ophiophagus (king cobra)

## Conservation status
- **Status:** Varies by species. King cobra Vulnerable; Indian cobra Least Concern; many species declining locally from persecution.
- **Population:** Unknown for most; king cobra decreasing across range
- **Trend:** Decreasing for king cobra and forest specialists
- **Assessed:** 2012 (king cobra); varies by species
- **CITES:** King cobra Appendix II
- Snakebite mortality is a human health crisis — conservation and antivenom access should align.

## Key facts: Cobra
- The hood is a threat display — ribs and muscles spread loose neck skin.
- King cobras eat other snakes, including venomous species — not true Naja cobras.
- Spitting cobras can eject venom into eyes from metres away.
- Snakebite kills tens of thousands yearly in Asia and Africa — antivenom access saves lives.
- Snake charming often involves defanged or stressed animals — illegal and cruel in many countries.
- Pakistan and India host multiple cobra species — education reduces persecution.

## What makes a cobra a cobra?
Not every hooded snake is a cobra taxonomically. True cobras are elapids in genus Naja — Indian cobra, Egyptian cobra, Mozambique spitting cobra among roughly 30 species. The king cobra is the sole member of Ophiophagus and phylogenetically distinct despite the common name.

Hood spreading accompanies hissing and upright posture — defensive signals preferring escape over bite. Cobras hunt rodents, frogs, birds and other snakes, often at dusk.

Venom delivery through fixed front fangs injects neurotoxins blocking nerve signals. Spitting cobras add propulsion through specialised fang openings.

## King cobra and spitting cobras
The king cobra reaches 5.5 metres, builds nest mounds of leaf litter — rare parental care in snakes — and feeds almost exclusively on snakes. It inhabits forests from India through South-East Asia, listed Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Spitting cobras — Naja nigricollis, N. mossambica and others — aim venom at eyes, causing pain and blindness if untreated. Flushing with water, not milk, is recommended first aid before hospital care.

Indian cobra Naja naja features in mythology and snakebite statistics across the subcontinent, including Pakistan — a WARN partner country where antivenom access and habitat coexistence matter.

## Snakebite, trade and conservation
WHO classifies snakebite envenoming as a neglected tropical disease. Cobras contribute significantly to mortality in South Asia and Africa. Effective response combines community education, rapid transport, appropriate antivenom and hospital protocols — not killing all snakes indiscriminately.

Snake charming, venom extraction without release and export for novelty displays persist despite bans. King cobras enter illegal pet and skin trade under CITES Appendix II.

Habitat conversion removes rodent controllers farmers need. Integrated pest management preserving snake populations benefits agriculture.

## Cobras and people
Cobras appear in Hindu iconography, Egyptian regalia and medical symbols — the Rod of Asclepius may derive from snake-healer traditions. Modern coexistence means secure grain storage reducing rodent attraction, boots in fields and torch use at night.

Never attempt to handle wild cobras. Relocation by trained snake rescuers protects both people and snakes. Killing cobras increases rodent crop damage long-term.

WARN readers in Pakistan and India benefit from understanding cobra ecology — fear balanced with respect reduces both bite incidence and biodiversity loss.

## Related WARN guides
Cobras are elapid snakes — read WARN's python guide for constrictors, rattlesnake page for pit vipers, and snake hub for overview.

Komodo dragon and monitor lizard guides cover other reptile predators in overlapping regions.

Antivenom access and habitat protection reduce snakebite mortality without unnecessary killing.

## What WARN does
WARN provides free wildlife education in Pakistan and across partner countries where cobras occur — promoting coexistence, antivenom awareness and habitat protection rather than indiscriminate killing.

If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.

## Frequently asked questions: Cobra
### Are all hooded snakes cobras?
Taxonomically, true cobras are genus Naja. The king cobra is a separate genus Ophiophagus. Some colubrids mimic hooding without being true cobras.

### How dangerous is a cobra bite?
Cobra venom is neurotoxic and potentially fatal without antivenom. Severity depends on species, venom yield and bite location. All cobra bites need hospital assessment.

### Can cobras spit venom?
Spitting cobras in Africa and Asia can eject venom into eyes from several metres. Immediate water flushing and medical care are essential.

### What is the largest cobra?
The king cobra is the longest venomous snake — up to 5.5 metres — and eats other snakes. It is Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

### Where do cobras live?
Africa, the Middle East, India, Pakistan, South-East Asia and southern China — diverse habitats from desert to rainforest.

### Should cobras be killed on sight?
No. Cobras avoid humans when possible and control rodents. Killing increases ecological imbalance; call trained rescuers for relocation.

## Sources
- [IUCN Red List — king cobra](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/177540/13167031)
- [WHO — snakebite envenoming](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/snakebite-envenoming)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica — cobra](https://www.britannica.com/animal/cobra)
- [Wikipedia — Cobra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobra)

---
Full guide: https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cobra