The Los Angeles County Wild Cobra Refuge

Because of the rapid human encroachment upon previously undeveloped land, each year more than a dozen majestic King Cobras are wantonly killed by villagers on the subcontinent of India and on the island of Sri Lanka. Many experts will tell you that one or more cobras in any given ecosystem poses serious potential health problems for cohabitants including, but not limited to, humans. Especially baby humans. (see video link for example) http://youtube.com/watch?v=MJe2to3JZxE

But lets look at some of the facts as they pertain to human-cobra interaction. First, are cobras the deadliest snakes in the world? No. That title belongs to the Inland Taipan of Australia. What about the second deadliest? No. Once again we must go down under for the Australian Brown Snake. Third? Nope. Try the Beaked Sea Snake. Fourth? Black Mamba. Sorry.

So where do Cobras rank among the deadliest snakes in the world? Ninth. That's right. There's a whole Bradford family of serpents deadlier than the King Cobra. This, of course, raises the question, "What's the big deal?"

Two words. The Hood. Most people who come face to face with a cobra get freaked out by the hood. This is understandable. It's a scary flap of skin. No argument here.

People also get spooked by the fangs and the venom. This, too, is understandable as these particular features are mostly what make cobras "deadly" in the first place.

We can agree, then, the scary-looking hood and the poisonousness of cobras are the main beef that people have with these animals. But is this fair? If cobras had soft white fur and whiskers in addition to the hood and fangs, would they somehow be more palatable? Unfortunately, God and evolution will forever let that question go unanswered.