Indore Zoo now hosts Madhya Pradesh’s first pair of King Cobras

Indore’s Kamla Nehru Prani Sangrahalaya has become the first zoo in Madhya Pradesh to house a pair of King Cobras. The latest addition—a male King Cobra—was officially handed over by Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav during his visit to the zoo on Tuesday. The snake has now been opened for public viewing.

The male cobra was sent from Peelikula Biological Park in Karnataka. It first went to Bhopal’s Van Vihar, then shifted to Indore. This cobra is about 12 feet long, weighs 10.5 kg, and is roughly 3.5 years old.

Both cobras are in separate enclosures for now. The zoo plans to start breeding them during the appropriate season. If successful, the offspring could be sent to other zoos across Madhya Pradesh so more people can see King Cobras.

भारतीय इतिहास की अद्वितीय प्रशासिका राजमाता अहिल्या देवी की नगरी इंदौर में आयोजित ‛कैबिनेट बैठक' हेतु पधारे यशस्वी मुख्यमंत्री डॉ. मोहन यादव जी द्वारा आज इंदौर प्राणी संग्रहालय का भ्रमण किया गया।

इस अवसर पर भाजपा परिवारजनों की गरिमामयी उपस्थिति रही। pic.twitter.com/Vt6JEqL5vd

— Pushyamitra Bhargav (@advpushyamitra) May 20, 2025

“Indore is not the natural habitat of the King Cobra. I appreciate the effort and planning that went into designing a suitable enclosure,” said Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav after inaugurating the new snake enclosure.

Zoo officials said they rescued the female King Cobra in 2022. Snake charmers from Maharashtra and Odisha had brought it to Indore. A tip-off led to the rescue. When she arrived, her health was poor, but the zoo team treated her. Now, she is healthy, around 13–14 feet long, and about 5–6 years old.

“Her health was fragile when we got her. We gave her constant attention, and now she’s healthy and thriving,” said Dr. Uttam Yadav, zoo in-charge.

The female is about 13–14 feet long and estimated to be around five to six years old. “At the time of rescue, someone informed us about the snake charmers. We acted quickly and brought her to safety,” said Nihar Parulekar, Zoo Curator and Education Officer.

Both snakes are currently housed in separate enclosures inside the zoo’s Snake Park. Zoo authorities plan to initiate a breeding program when the season is right.

“We will try to mate them during the breeding season. Once successful, the offspring will be sent to other zoos in the state so more people can see and learn about King Cobras,” said Parulekar.

The King Cobra is the world’s longest venomous snake and can grow up to 18 feet. It is known for its intelligence and ability to adapt its hunting strategies. Female King Cobras are one of the few snakes that build nests and stay with their eggs until they hatch. These snakes play a key role in controlling the population of other reptiles and maintaining ecological balance.

During his visit, the CM also toured the Bird Park and interacted with various animals. He fed birds and inspected other enclosures, including those of ostriches and monkeys. “The CM was pleased with the zoo’s work and promised to gift a giraffe soon,” said Dr. Yadav.

With both King Cobras now open for viewing, Indore Zoo officials say visitors can now view both the male and female King Cobras during regular zoo hours.

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