We added two new eyeglass cobras (Naja naja) from Lauscha (Germany) to our exhibition of poisonous creatures. The venom of this snake is highly dangerous, a gramme of poison from this type of cobra can kill a human. With the arrival of these specimens we have expanded our bank of antidotes, thus becoming the only zoo in Spain that has an antidote for this species.
Terra Natura Benidorm already has six different types of antivenoms that allow treating the bites of some of the deadliest species on the planet. Due to the dangerous nature of these species, the zookeepers of the park strictly maintain the security protocols to avoid any type of incident.
The new specimens are an adult male and a new-born female. eyeglass cobras are a threatened species, it is native to India and its fame makes it present in Hindu mythology.
As a characteristic, they have a hood that they open around their head when they feel threatened or excited, and in their adulthood can reach up to 2.4 metres in length. This cobra owes its name due to the two eyeglasses it has.
They capture their prey, usually are rodents and birds, injecting through their fangs a powerful poison, endowed with a neurotoxin that severely affects the nervous system of the prey. It is estimated that more than 50,000 people die a year because of their bites. This reptile does not fear the human being, so it does not usually attack unless it feels threatened.