King Cobra With Fractured Ribs Under Treatment At OUAT In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: A team of experts from Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) on Monday examined and administered antibiotic and painkiller injection to king cobra which had broken four of its ribs.

According to Snake Helpline, a 6-member team of the helpline took the 12-foot-long reptile to the Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology for assessment of its injury.

Assistant Professor Dr Siddhartha Shankar Behera conducted an x ray which revealed that it’s four ribs had broken and accordingly given antibiotic and painkiller injection.

After two days the veterinarians will decide whether they will plaster the snake’s body or not, said Dr Behera.

The reptile was seriously injured after locals of Chilika pelted stones  and bricks at it after the snake entered a house in search of food. Before the Snake Helpline volunteers could start their rescue operation somebody threw a brick from the roof on the snake.

The snake was badly injured during the incident. Snake Helpline volunteer Bapi Mishra, who was called by the locals, found some blood on the snake’s body. He informed Subhendu Mallik, who visited Balugaon and observed a depression on one side and decided to bring the snake to OUAT Bhubaneswar for treatment.

OUAT officials said the reptile will be kept under observation for few days and if necessary bandaging would be carried out.