3.
1. Understand the ecology of the King
Cobra.
2.
We use radio telemetry as a tool to track the
movements of the snakes in order to quantify
home range and territory size, investigate
homing instincts and habitat, and monitor
thermal regimen and behaviour. The radio
telemetry project was initiated in 2008 with
Dr Matt Goode from the University of Arizona
and the collaboration of several herpetolo-
gists in India and abroad. Thus far, five male
snakes and two females have been radio
tracked (one male is still being tracked). This
aspect of the study involves volunteers, and
these are people interested in research who
pitch in time to track the snakes. They are
given basic training before being deployed in
the field. In April 2019, we will be conducting
two more surgeries to implant radio transmitters in a
breeding pair and hope to track them and gain
insights into post-mating behaviour.
The radio transmitter is surgically implanted in the
coelomic cavity of the snake before it is released back
into the wild. Subsequently, two persons trained in
telemetry follow the snake from morning until
evening (after initially observing them over 24 hours,
we figured they were diurnal and are inactive at
night). The researchers observe the snake from a
distance of about 10m. and document behaviour and
activity on to an open data kit platform. They record
information such as geographic coordinates, air
temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, the body
temperature of the snake and its behaviour. Based on
the observations of four males and one female in
1.
The radio telemetry project involves two persons
following the snake from morning until evening, and has
already yielded important data on the ecology and
behaviour of the species. Image by Ved More.
2. Subject M5 (a large male) is released after implant-
ing the radio transmitter. Image by Venetia Sharanya.
3.
M5 eats a cobra. Image by Akhilesh Tambe.
2013, it was found that King Cobra movement
patterns are strongly influenced by ambient
temperature, relative humidity, and wind direction.
King Cobras did not show strong preferences for any
particular habitat type, but were likely to prefer areas
close to streams with abundant fallen logs as retreat
sites. Animal burrows were also used for shelter.