ONE would quiver by just merely hearing the name of “Banakon” or King Cobra, much even more at the very sight of what is now considered as the “most dangerous” snake in the Philippines.
And so despite the wildlife conservationists’ appeal for public awareness in merciful dealing with the king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), wanton killing of the venomous snake continues.
Over the weekend, a nine-foot-long king cobra estimated to be at five kilograms was intentionally and repeatedly ran over to death by some motorists when it tried to cross along a highway in barangay Kapatagan, Digos City in Davao del Sur.
The feared snake reportedly showed aggressiveness and stayed for long on the pavement, thereby provoking the motorists to do something in a cruel way for them to proceed driving safely.
“Kami ang naa sa actual mi-atang ang bitin sa dalan. First time nako nakakita og banakon nga mitindog iyang gisundan ang sakyanan nga pula ug JRMT. Mitindog og miharang man sa kurbadahon nga dalan alang alang magpapaak ang manglabay ligsan na lang,” said motorcycle rider Harold Ramos Giger on his Facebook wall reposted by Bombo Radyo Davao.
According to Emerson Sy of the Philippine Center for Terrestrial and Aquatic Research (PCTAR), in a previous interview with Philippine Daily Inquirer, “too much hot” or “too much dry” (weather) would drive them (king cobra snakes) out of their burrows to look for new habitats.
The National Geographic, meanwhile, states that although the king cobra is undoubtedly a very dangerous snake, it prefers to escape unless it is provoked.
And despite its aggressive reputation, the king cobra is actually much more cautious than many smaller snakes, it only attacks people when it is cornered, in self-defense, or to protect its eggs.
But several netizens digressed in defending the Digos City motorists who drew criticisms for their unified effort to kill the snake.
“Kanang banakon dili na parehas sa cobra nga basta di lang matumban dili mamaak. Mangita gyod na'g molihok nga iyang makita gukdon matao man o hayop,” wrote one Lhan-gir Buque.
“Looy tan-awon giligsan pero kon maka-biktima pipila lang ka minuto patay ang tao kon walay available anti-venom nga madapat,” another Bob Ong Batulan opined.
PCTAR had already documented over two dozens of King Cobra killings in the provinces of Quezon, Laguna, Batangas, Aurora, Bohol, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Davao Oriental, Bukidnon, and Compostela Valley.
PCTAR’s Sy explained that annihilating them could do humans more harm since that kind of reptile which is an “apex predator” for being on top of the food chain, has an important role in keeping the ecological balance
“The best thing to do is to step out of the way and allow the snake to leave,” was Sy’s advice if a person encounters a king cobra.
In Bukidnon, particularly at Malaybalay City’s mini Zoo, a healthy huge banakon reportedly captured in the outskirt of Valencia City’s mountainous barangay has been preserved in a wide glass cage for the visitors to see.
“Apan bisan nakakulong bati-on gihapon ta’g kahadlok motan-aw kay bangis kaayo’g aura labi na'g motindog habog pa sa tao. Unsa na lang kon imo matabo sa dalan,” shared Jonas De Guzman of Don Carlos town in said province.
