Thiruvanathapuram: An employee of the Thiruvananthapuram zoo had a horrific death as King Cobra bit him. The victim of this rare tragedy was Harshad (45), an animal-keeper.
Harshad, who hails from Amboori panchayath in Kattakkada Taluk, was bitten by the reptile while cleaning its cage Thursday afternoon.
The victim had moved the snake to a smaller cage while cleaning the main enclosure and when he went back to the smaller cage he noticed it was dirty and proceeded to clean it without shifting the serpent back and consequently, was bitten.
Harshad, who has been working at the zoo for the past four years, was alone in the enclosure when the incident occurred.
He was slightly conscious while being rushed to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, but died before arriving there, the police said.
A case of unnatural death under section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code has been lodged.
Police said whether any offence under the IPC was made out would be ascertained after receiving the post mortem report.
Meanwhile, Kerala Minister of Zoos J Chinchu Rani on Thursday said the state government will take necessary actions to support his family.
King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the longest venomous snake in the world. Any human bitten by this dreaded reptile could die within 30 minutes of the bite and an adult elephant could die in a few hours.
The snake possesses a potent neurotoxic venom and it is released in a huge dose as it bites, causing certain death. Herpetologists say the amount of neurotoxin a King Cobra can deliver in a single bite is enough to kill 20 people, or even an elephant. King cobra venom affects the respiratory centers in the brain, causing respiratory arrest and cardiac failure.
Thiruvananthapuram Zoo, one of the oldest zoos in India, was established in 1857 by the Maharaja of Travancore. It is situated in the heart of the capital city of Kerala.
(With PTI inputs)
