King cobra caught from Sabarimala Sannidhanam
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Sabarimala: A king cobra was caught from the premises of the renowned Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala on Sunday, as the temple witnessed a surge of devotees ahead of the Makaravilakku festival on January 14.
The snake, found near the "Bhasmakulam" at Sannidhanam (temple complex), was safely captured by specially trained snake rescuers from the Forest Department. This marked the first instance of a "rajavembala" (king cobra) being caught on the shrine premises, according to an official statement.
Surveillance in the area had been intensified after recent reports of a snake sighting near the temple complex. The king cobra was discovered as part of this heightened vigilance. Following its capture, the reptile was transported to Pampa, the temple’s base camp, and later released into the dense forest.
This is not the first time a king cobra has been spotted in the region; an earlier instance occurred at Pampa.
The Forest Department has increased its surveillance at Sannidhanam and surrounding areas as a precautionary measure ahead of the Makaravilakku festival.
Since the beginning of the pilgrimage season on November 15, 2024, a total of 243 snakes have been caught from Sannidhanam and nearby Marakkoottam, according to department sources.
With PTI inputs