Cobras prefer rat holes in households for breeding

Zoologists have said cobras look for safe, dry space to lay eggs during the breeding season which might well be the reason for so many snakes being sighted in the different parts of Bangladesh.

Rajshahi CorrespondentBadrul Hasan Litonbdnews24.com
Published : 18 July 2017, 05:30 PM
Updated : 18 July 2017, 05:30 PM

Assistant Professor of Zoology at Rajshahi University Bidhan Chandra Das said: "This may be the reason of finding snakes in the localities of Rajshahi, Kushtia, Bhola and different parts of the country."

The local people have killed most of the snakes.

“Besides finding a breeding place in the rat hole, the cobras take mice as food,” Das added.

The zoologist told bdnews24.com: “April-July is the peak season of breeding for cobras. One snake can lay 30 to 35 eggs, and it takes 40 to 50 days for birth of baby cobras.”

“The snakes cannot dig the hole themselves, so they take shelter in rat holes. They stay there for five to seven days after their baby is born.”

Fast-shrinking jungles in different areas have forced them to come out to the neighbourhoods, he added.

He also said carbolic acid could not be a good repellent for snakes as many people might have thought.

Instead, he advised people to keep the homestead clean and fill up the holes, if there are any, so that snakes cannot use them as a sanctuary.