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Is it a cobra?


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18 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

The easiest way to find out is to put on a motorcycle helmet and get near it. If it hoods up and hisses it’s a cobra, if it spits at you it’s definitely a cobra. I don’t think it’s a spitter, though, because they have black markings and they’re usually very visible. There are spitters, though, that are almost completely white. In terms of head shape, eye size and eye location on the head, I’d say it’s definitely a cobra. They usually want nothing to do with humans, given the chance they’ll just eff off. They also strike from the top down, which makes their striking range very predictable. Next time it shows up, put on a helmet, put the visor down and walk up to it. 2 meters of distance will do the trick just fine. 

Maybe that´s a good advice for an experienced person. Can be deadly for an unexperienced. Also it depends on what helmet you have in home. Very dangerous advice.

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On 10/22/2024 at 3:06 PM, Gottfrid said:

Maybe that´s a good advice for an experienced person. Can be deadly for an unexperienced. Also it depends on what helmet you have in home. Very dangerous advice.

It only seems that way, if you don't know about cobras. Cobras always raise the front part of their body up and strike down from that position, which severely limits their striking range, which makes them very predictable. They also want nothing to do with humans, if given the chance they'll always flee. In case of a spitter you'll need a helmet with a visor so it can't spit in your eyes. Nothing dangerous about my advice whatsoever. A long as you stay at least 2 meters away from the snake you're perfectly safe and 2 meters is generous. A regular cobra has a striking range of less than a meter.

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1 hour ago, pacovl46 said:

It only seems that way, if you don't know about cobras. Cobras always raise the front part of their body up and strike down from that position, which severely limits their striking range, which makes them very predictable. They also want nothing to do with humans, if given the chance they'll always flee. In case of a spitter you'll need a helmet with a visor so it can't spit in your eyes. Nothing dangerous about my advice whatsoever. A long as you stay at least 2 meters away from the snake you're perfectly safe and 2 meters is generous. A regular cobra has a striking range of less than a meter.

Just stop it! You clearly post yourself it only seems that way, for people who do not know about cobras. So, for about 80-85%, roughly estimated, it looks like dangerous. First, they may be right, because it will always be more dangerous for a person without knowledge than for a person with knowledge. You should simple not advise unexperienced persons to deal with snakes.

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7 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Just stop it! You clearly post yourself it only seems that way, for people who do not know about cobras. So, for about 80-85%, roughly estimated, it looks like dangerous. First, they may be right, because it will always be more dangerous for a person without knowledge than for a person with knowledge. You should simple not advise unexperienced persons to deal with snakes.

I agree, and make that 99-99.5%.

 

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14 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Just stop it! You clearly post yourself it only seems that way, for people who do not know about cobras. So, for about 80-85%, roughly estimated, it looks like dangerous. First, they may be right, because it will always be more dangerous for a person without knowledge than for a person with knowledge. You should simple not advise unexperienced persons to deal with snakes

 

 

Which part of cobras have an extremely limited striking range is it you didn't understand? 

 

I gave you a perfect explanation, but you obviously didn't get it. So let's just leave it at that. 

 

 

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On 10/21/2024 at 11:07 AM, farmerjo said:

Here is a King Cobra that was under the bonnet of our pickup last week.

Thanks to the quick response from some locals.

1729504732005.jpg

1729504731961.jpg

 

 

Jesus.. I'm not particularly scared of snakes, but I'm not going near one of those bad boys. If I decide on residing in the sticks long-term I think I will have to get a crossbow as I won't be able to own a gun. 

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On 10/24/2024 at 10:52 AM, Gottfrid said:

Just stop it! You clearly post yourself it only seems that way, for people who do not know about cobras. So, for about 80-85%, roughly estimated, it looks like dangerous. First, they may be right, because it will always be more dangerous for a person without knowledge than for a person with knowledge. You should simple not advise unexperienced persons to deal with snakes.

In case you have facebook watch this video. It will show you exactly how cobras behave when they feel threatened and how they strike.

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/v78A4PRpF2PMxP1L/

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5 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

In case you have facebook watch this video. It will show you exactly how cobras behave when they feel threatened and how they strike.

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/v78A4PRpF2PMxP1L/

Still doesn´t matter. The thing is that untrained and people who do not have the knowledge and experience should not do anything with nor handle snakes.

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12 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

In case you have facebook watch this video. It will show you exactly how cobras behave when they feel threatened and how they strike.

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/v78A4PRpF2PMxP1L/

Interesting. And you may be right. 

But it would add "Do not try this at home"

More interesting for me: if I run away, will the cobra follow me?

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14 minutes ago, Lorry said:

Interesting. And you may be right. 

But it would add "Do not try this at home"

More interesting for me: if I run away, will the cobra follow me?


No, it won't.

Slightly off topic but if anyone is interested in snakes you should go to the Red Cross Snake Farm in Bangkok - it is excellent. Or the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute to give it its proper name. They produce all the anti-venom for Thailand there and once a day they have an excellent and really informative show with all kinds of snakes including king cobras. They also have venom milking demonstrations. It's not your typical tourist trap but genuinely informative. Highly recommended if you are in Bangkok and have any interest in learning about the snakes here.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293916-d456221-Reviews-Snake_Farm_Queen_Saovabha_Memorial_Institute-Bangkok.html

And because it is the red cross it is not set up to make money like other shake shows in tourist areas, but all money goes towards supporting their operations and making anti venom, saving lives.

Edited by josephbloggs
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31 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

No, it won't

Are there any snakes in Thailand that would follow you?

 

32 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:



Slightly off topic but if anyone is interested in snakes you should go to the Red Cross Snake Farm in Bangkok - it is excellent. Or the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute to give it its proper name. They produce all the anti-venom for Thailand there and once a day they have an excellent and really informative show with all kinds of snakes including king cobras. They also have venom milking demonstrations. It's not your typical tourist trap but genuinely informative. Highly recommended if you are in Bangkok and have any interest in learning about the snakes here.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293916-d456221-Reviews-Snake_Farm_Queen_Saovabha_Memorial_Institute-Bangkok.html

And because it is the red cross it is not set up to make money like other shake shows in tourist areas, but all money goes towards supporting their operations and making anti venom, saving lives.

 Been there,  done that, ages ago.

I may need a refresher,  thanks for reminding me.

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13 minutes ago, Lorry said:

Are there any snakes in Thailand that would follow you?


Honestly, I have no idea, but don't think snakes will chase you down in general.

 

Quote

Been there,  done that, ages ago.

I may need a refresher,  thanks for reminding me.


Same. Must be close to ten years since I went.  This thread reminded me of it so fancy a refresher myself.

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22 minutes ago, Lorry said:

I remember reading some do...

 nearly all snakes are defensive - ie any threat display is to protect themselves.   Snakes will not chase us - we are not their prey

if a snake is threatened and cornered - it may attempt to flee in your direction , but this should not be construed as 'chasing' you

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1 hour ago, G Rex said:

 nearly all snakes are defensive - ie any threat display is to protect themselves.   Snakes will not chase us - we are not their prey

if a snake is threatened and cornered - it may attempt to flee in your direction , but this should not be construed as 'chasing' you

 

Most snakes will go away if they can.

Most are afraid of humans.

Snakes will 'attack' if there is no escape route, if they have young, or if they have just caught some prey.

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A snake is like a weapon. Always to be considered loaded and dangerous,

 

I definately would not mess around. Use waterproof swiming glasses or better a full face waterproof mask and use the 3 meter long pool cleaning rod with net to gently push the chap out and drop in the nearest gutter is what I may do. But best to to watch it and call the snake removal service that every area has if you can and take a pic if possible as it is useful in case you get bitten for ID and to give the proper anti venom.

 

Snakes can sneak in in aircons so get the units cleaned at least once a year.

 

Best deterrent for snakes is strong smell like amoniac or eaucalyptus and similar that they cannot stand.

 

Many cleaning products have it. Regularly spray around the property. Snakes love big bushes, stone piles, rock piles, shoes left outside, behind the cushions of any outdoor furniture etc. If you want to play it safe, avoid any such places where they can linger in. Keep the entire garden at floor level exposed with no bushes around that enable them to hide, 

 

This wont prevent them,  but will avoid giving them extra hiding areas. Many snakes are harmless, useful to control rodents, frogs etc. But even many of those harmless.  they can badly bite your flesh and can cause severe bleeding and nasty wounds taking ages to heal.

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11 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Still doesn´t matter. The thing is that untrained and people who do not have the knowledge and experience should not do anything with nor handle snakes.

Mate, what are you on about?! I never said to handle the snake. All I said was get a better pic from a closer distance so we can identify the snake, and 2 or 3 meters distance are more than enough because of a cobra's limited striking range!!! But hey, whatever gets you through the night! 

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4 hours ago, Lorry said:

Interesting. And you may be right. 

But it would add "Do not try this at home"

More interesting for me: if I run away, will the cobra follow me?

Definitely don't try to handle or catch a venomous snake unless you know exactly what you're doing! That's pretty obvious in my book.

 

No, the only snake species that might "run" after you, if you corner it, are mambas, but even they, like all other species of snake, want nothing to do with you and will try to get away first. 

 

Of all venomous snake species, cobras are the most predictable, though, because they lift the front part of their body up from the ground and will strike down from that position, which limits their striking range. Obviously this doesn't apply when you're handling them, which I don't recommend.

 

They're also sight hunters, which means they'll focus on movement, which is why they're the preferred species for snake charmers. 

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3 hours ago, josephbloggs said:


Honestly, I have no idea, but don't think snakes will chase you down in general.

 


Same. Must be close to ten years since I went.  This thread reminded me of it so fancy a refresher myself.

Mambas are known to do that, if you corner them and they're quite fast as well. They can do 12 or 15 kilometers per hour, if I remember correctly, but they only exist in Africa, so that's not a problem in Thailand. Mamabs are pretty much the most difficult species when it comes to handling snakes. Extremely wiry, extremely fast and aggressive when it comes to defending themselves. 

Edited by pacovl46
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53 minutes ago, pacovl46 said:

Mate, what are you on about?! I never said to handle the snake. All I said was get a better pic from a closer distance so we can identify the snake, and 2 or 3 meters distance are more than enough because of a cobra's limited striking range!!! But hey, whatever gets you through the night! 

My problem is that you find it hard to understand. For you 2-3 meter might be enough as you feel secure with your knowledge about snakes. For another person, that might not be 100% fit, slow reaction, old age an so on. Maybe get scared and rattled if the cobra chose to strike 1 meter closer, turn around slip and fall down. Is it still safe for that person?

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