Cobra Capital of India: The Indian village has the highest snake population in the country
etimes.in | May 17, 2025, 09.37 AM IST
In Indian culture, snakes have long been prayed to, but they are also frightening creatures. In ancient scriptures and modern-day rituals, serpents, especially cobras, have a significant place in mythology and daily life. The Indian cobra, with its iconic hood and deadly venom, is often associated with deities like Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Festivals such as Naga Panchami celebrate these creatures in Hinduism.
However, beyond the myths and festivals, certain regions in India are known for their high snake populations. One such place is Agumbe, a small village in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. Often referred to as the "Cobra Capital of India", read more about this place here:
Apart from that, Agumbe is home to rich wildlife. Unique fungi like Meliola agumbensis, Tarenna agumbensis, Hygromaster agumbensis, and Dactylaria agumbensis have all been discovered here and named after the village. This region also houses many exclusive species of the Western Ghats, such as the Malabar gliding frog, Malabar hornbill, and the Malabar pit viper. It’s even known to have rare and majestic animals like melanistic leopards and solitary tusker elephants.
Cobra Capital of India
Perhaps the most iconic resident of Agumbe is the king cobra, which is the area's flagship species. Agumbe is the village where renowned herpetologist Padma Shri Romulus Whitaker established the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station (ARRS), where India's first radio telemetry project on king cobras began.
For the unversed, a herpetologist is a scientist who studies reptiles and amphibians, such as snakes, lizards, frogs, toads, turtles, and salamanders. Herpetologists may work in the field observing these animals in their natural habitats, or in labs and museums studying their behavior, physiology, genetics, and evolution. They often play a key role in conservation efforts, especially for endangered species, and help us better understand biodiversity and ecosystems.
The king cobra is also known to be the world's longest venomous snake, and plays a crucial role in the local biodiversity by controlling the population of other snakes as an apex predator in its habitat. Unlike most snakes, its diet primarily consists of other snakes, including venomous species like kraits and other cobras. By keeping the snake population in check, it helps regulate the food chain and prevents overpopulation of certain species, which could otherwise disrupt the ecological balance.
Photo Credits: Canva
However, beyond the myths and festivals, certain regions in India are known for their high snake populations. One such place is Agumbe, a small village in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. Often referred to as the "Cobra Capital of India", read more about this place here:
King cobra under threat, put on red list
The King Cobra, whose numbers have been decimated in the Western Ghats and parts of Southeast Asia where the magnificent snake once thrived, has been declared a vulnerable species and placed on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Which Indian state has the highest population of snakes?
Located in the green Western Ghats of the nation is Agumbe, a tiny village in Karnataka covering just 3 square kilometers at an elevation of about 2,700 feet. It is also popularly called the "Cherrapunji of the South" because of its heavy rainfall. With a small population of around 600 people, the area is surrounded by hills, dense rainforests, and waterfalls, making it a paradise for nature explorers and wildlife researchers.Apart from that, Agumbe is home to rich wildlife. Unique fungi like Meliola agumbensis, Tarenna agumbensis, Hygromaster agumbensis, and Dactylaria agumbensis have all been discovered here and named after the village. This region also houses many exclusive species of the Western Ghats, such as the Malabar gliding frog, Malabar hornbill, and the Malabar pit viper. It’s even known to have rare and majestic animals like melanistic leopards and solitary tusker elephants.
Cobra Capital of India
Perhaps the most iconic resident of Agumbe is the king cobra, which is the area's flagship species. Agumbe is the village where renowned herpetologist Padma Shri Romulus Whitaker established the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station (ARRS), where India's first radio telemetry project on king cobras began.For the unversed, a herpetologist is a scientist who studies reptiles and amphibians, such as snakes, lizards, frogs, toads, turtles, and salamanders. Herpetologists may work in the field observing these animals in their natural habitats, or in labs and museums studying their behavior, physiology, genetics, and evolution. They often play a key role in conservation efforts, especially for endangered species, and help us better understand biodiversity and ecosystems.
The king cobra is also known to be the world's longest venomous snake, and plays a crucial role in the local biodiversity by controlling the population of other snakes as an apex predator in its habitat. Unlike most snakes, its diet primarily consists of other snakes, including venomous species like kraits and other cobras. By keeping the snake population in check, it helps regulate the food chain and prevents overpopulation of certain species, which could otherwise disrupt the ecological balance.
Photo Credits: Canva