Video of king cobra ‘standing up’ shared by Susanta Nanda

In the video, a large King cobra can be seen in an erect position, with its head raised while peeking over a muddy platform. Since being shared on Monday, the clip has amassed more than 170,000 views on Twitter and varied reactions.

King cobras (Ophiophagus hannah) are the world’s longest venomous snakes, reaching lengths of up to 18 feet (5.5 meters). They are found in the forests of Southeast Asia, particularly in countries like India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. These snakes are highly venomous and are known for their iconic hood, which they flare when threatened. According to the owner (@susantananda3) of the video shared on Twitter: “The king cobra can literally “stand up” and look at a full-grown person in the eye. When confronted, they can lift up to a third of its body off the ground.”