Tracking the King Cobras

BANGALORE, INDIA: The wildlife documentary titled 'Secrets of the King Cobra' was filmed by the National Geographic Channel in 2008. The footages were taken in wild, which was possible due to the use of radio telemetry.

To find out more about this first-ever radio telemetry study of the king cobra, and the first-ever radio telemetry study of any snake species in India, CIOL's Sharath Kumar spoke to Gouri Shankar, herpetologist and conservation officer of Agumbe Rain Forest Research Station, which is a dedicated center for king cobra research.

Excerpts:

CIOL: Can you give us a brief outline about your project using radio telemetry technology?

Gouri Shankar: The overall goal of the project is to learn as much as possible about the natural history and basic ecology of wild king cobras, and to use this information to better manage and conserve these incredible snakes and the habitats on which they depend.

Through radio telemetry we hope to quantify seasonal movement patterns, home range characteristics, and habitat use of free-ranging king cobras, obtain data on various aspects of king cobra natural history, including reproduction, diet and growth. It also aims to involve students and local communities in educational programs focused on ecology and conservation of king cobras and their habitats and develop management recommendations to aid in the preservation of king cobras and the habitats on which they depend.

CIOL: How many king cobras have been implanted with radio transmitters? From what range can you pick up the signals?

GS: We implanted a total of four king cobras so far from 2008 to 2009. In the year 2008, two trans-located snakes (snakes rescued from a place and released at a different place) and in 2009, two non-trans-located snakes were implanted with radio transmitters. The range from which signals could be picked up is between 375 meters to 500 meters.

CIOL: Is the same technology used in research of any other snake species also?

GS: This is the first-ever radio telemetry study of the king cobra, and the first-ever radio telemetry study of any snake species in India.  However, this technology and methodology has a history of over 50 years in the rest of the world. In USA, Matt Goode, from the University of Arizona, who is also our project advisor, has been studying rattlesnakes using radio telemetry for the last 30 years. He has conducted hundreds of surgeries on numerous snake species with less than one per cent mortality.

CIOL: What about the danger posed to the king cobra due to the implantation? How is the Forest Department extending cooperation to the project?

GS: The implantation is done through a minor surgical procedure and does not endanger the life of the cobra.
The Forest Department has been supportive. Being open, transparent and actively involving them in our work through regular updates, submitting reports, inviting them on field has helped create a mutual respectability and increasing their confidence level in us.

CIOL: How has been the project progressing so far?

GS: This project has proven to be a great start in understanding the secret lives of king cobras. In the year 2008, two king cobras – a male and a female trans-located snake – were implanted with radio transmitters. The two different teams have come across incidents of cannibalism and we have some leads, which makes us speculate whether the kings have their own home ranges.

The Phase II of this project was started in March 2009 by implanting radio transmitters on two non-trans-located snakes.

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