The Asian Cobra - Asia's Domestic Deadly Dilemma

When humans interrupt the ecology of natural Asia, the Asian cobra hears the dinner bell. We clear land for farming and storage, and the rats and vermin of the area naturally follow. The Asian cobra goes where the vermin go, as they are a large portion of their diet. Humans and this deadly reptile are on a collision course. The Asian cobra kills thousands annually in Asia due to this interaction.

The Asian Cobra has long been considered the most dangerous snake in the world by leading herpetologists, and for good reason. It is a highly poisonous snake that regularly comes into contact with human beings in its natural settings. While there are more toxic snakes, the Asian cobra bites many more people. The venom in the Asian cobra, while not as toxic as some, does not respond as well to anti venom. Much like the American rattlesnake, it will still break down and damage tissue around the bite in spite of anti venom.

The Asian Cobra, sometimes referred to as a monocled cobra, can be found throughout Asia, and can inhabit a variety of different types of habitats. They enjoy the forests, grasslands, Savannah, and particular like to reside anywhere that humans have intruded. This is where the Asian cobra becomes both hindrance and helper.

Would Asians be better off without the Asian cobra? Needless to say the communities would be much worse off, as the Asian cobra controls the vermin's population. Without the cobra to keep them in check, the vermin would destroy crops and storage bins beyond repair. The loss in human life would be far greater than the deaths from the Asian cobra's deadly bite.

While it is obvious that the Asian cobra is a necessary reptile, that does little to ease the fears of the villagers living amongst them. The reptile has been known to enter a residence while the inhabitants sleep in search of a rogue rat or mouse. Confrontation is absolutely certain with these snakes being so abundant. Anytime you put poisonous reptiles in close proximity to humans, you will have confrontations.

Asian villagers face a difficult problem and deal with it on a constant basis. For example, if you were an Asian farmer, and you came across a deadly cobra, would you kill it? If you would, then what of your crops? This is not a decision I would care to have to make. Do I risk starving, or do I risk getting bit?