Nature Quest: False cobra found in Lawachhara
Moulvibazar's Lawachhara is widely known for its forest resources and wildlife. It is home to 167 species of trees, 246 species of birds, 39 rare species of snakes and 20 rare and endangered species of animals.
But the forest hosts another rare and endangered snake species as a false cobra was found there on November 30.
This snake does not belong to any of the 39 snake species found in the forest.
Wildlife expert Tania Khan found the false cobra while walking in the forest.
Talking to this correspondent, she said the snake has big round eyes and is reddish brown in colour. It measured three feet in length and two inches in width. "It can't be found in other parts of Bangladesh. I don't know anything more about it.,"
Interestingly, Tania spotted another false cobra in Lawachhara on November 19, 2013.
According to reptile experts, false cobras do not exist in Bangladesh.
Contacted, Mihir Kumar Doe, divisional forest officer of Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Department, said it is a good sign that Lawachhara forest is home to a vast array of wild animals, including this rare snake.
When The Daily Star approached renowned reptile expert SM Rashid with a photograph of the snake taken in Lawachhara, he said the photograph is a proof of false cobra's existence in Bangladesh.
It is rear fanged and known to be venomous but nothing is known about the venom, he said.
False cobras are usually found in China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam.
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