Bhubaneswar: A King Cobra, which has broken four of its ribs, underwent another X-ray, and cast and splint put on the injured part on Thursday.
Dr Indramani Nath, Professor of Veterinary Surgery & Radiologist, said, “In my 30-year career as a veterinarian this is my first case of treating a king cobra. Earlier, I have successfully cured many snakes from traumatic fractures. I hope the king cobra will be alright after three weeks. Till then it will be kept under observation.”
Subhendu Mallik, general secretary of Snake Helpline, said, “I didn’t find any literature of such a case. This could be the first case in the world where a 12-foot-long king cobra was treated for rib fracture. We hope the snake will be released back into the wild after it is fully cured.”
A team of experts from the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) on Monday had examined and administered antibiotic and painkiller injection to the snake.
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 in the incident.
