Thane: Spectacled cobra spotted preying Russell’s viper along Ghodbunder Road

Spectacled cobra eating adult Russell’s viper (Pic/Shivam Dubey)

A spectacled cobra was observed feeding on an adult Russell's viper at Waghbil, along Ghodbunder Road in Thane West, a few days back, offering a glimpse into the predatory behaviour of two of India's venomous snakes.

Wildlife enthusiast Shivam Dubey from NGO WWA documented this rare behaviour.

Dubey said, "While cobras primarily feed on rodents, frogs and other small animals, they are also known to prey on other snakes, including venomous species. This behaviour, known as ophiophagy, places snakes among the prey of these reptiles despite the danger posed by their venomous counterparts."

Russell's vipers are responsible for many snakebite incidents in India, making the encounter particularly striking. However, such predation is part of the natural food web, in which snakes can be both predators and prey.

The sighting at Waghbil highlights the complex interactions between wildlife species in and around Thane's urbanising landscape, where natural habitats intersect with human settlements.