Philippines homeowner captures venomous Luzon king cobra after finding it inside

A homeowner in Luzon, Philippines, got an unexpected surprise after stepping into a mountain-area house and finding a snake indoors.

Instead of killing it, the resident captured the animal alive — and Reddit commenters soon warned that it appeared to be a juvenile Luzon king cobra.

Here's what to know

In a post to r/WhatsThisSnake, the original poster said in a Reddit thread, "Mountain area. Stepped into my house and boom, snake." The poster added that they "captured it cause of other animals in the house and area, such as pets [and] livestock" and planned to release it "deeper into the mountains."

Several commenters identified the snake as a juvenile Luzon king cobra, Ophiophagus salvatana. One commenter warned, "Even if it's a juvenile, its venom is still as potent as an adult King Cobra. Please take caution when releasing it."

One commenter wrote, "That was very risky. Capturing such a venomous species." 

Another user quipped, "Finding a baby king cobra in your home, let alone putting it in a jar. I wish my levels of anxiety were this low."

One commenter explained why it might be easier than you think to capture a snake in a jar: "They enter the bottle to escape the scary humans." However, this still isn't the recommended way to deal with this type of wildlife encounter.

What can be done?

The safest move around a venomous snake is to avoid handling it altogether. As one commenter put it, "Leaving the snake alone is always the best option when it's possible."

If a snake is inside a home or near pets, practical steps can include moving children and animals away, closing off the area if possible, and contacting trained wildlife responders or relocation services. Not every community has easy access to that kind of help, but trying to capture one without training can quickly become dangerous.

Reducing unwanted wildlife encounters around homes can mean sealing gaps, limiting clutter where animals can hide, and reducing food sources such as rodents that may attract snakes.

Where can I learn more?

These articles cover cobra and other venomous snake encounters in homes and neighborhoods, along with safe removals.

• In Odisha, rescuers returned a 12-foot king cobra to the forest after panic near a bank.

• In South Africa, a rescuer removed a venomous cobra from a woman's room and relocated it.

• A snake catcher bagged an Indian cobra found inside grandparents' house for relocation.

• In Texas, a welfare check uncovered a Siamese spitting cobra inside a home.

• In Australia, a catcher confronted an eastern brown snake hissing from inside a shower.

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