Which Cobra Kills the Most People?
The Indian cobra kills the most people out of any creature in the elapid snake family. This snake is known for being a member of the “Big 4”, the snakes that are responsible for killing the most people in the Indian subcontinent every year. Unfortunately, this part of the world is inundated with venomous snakes, so upwards of 50,000 people die from bites from those four snakes each year.
The Indian cobra has a mortality rate of between 6.5% and 20% for its bites, a very high rate when you consider the prevalence of antivenom in the world. Roughly 12% of all bites in India and the surrounding countries come from this snake. Some estimates say that the Indian cobra is responsible for about 15,000 deaths on its own, and it causes far more injuries than that.
What is the Most Venomous Cobra in the World?
The Caspian cobra is the most venomous cobra in the world. When we say most venomous, we mean that this snake is the one that has the deadliest venom of all its family members. This snake is recognized as extremely problematic because of the potent chemical cocktail that it introduces to its prey.
According to studies, this snake has the fifth-highest potential fatality count for a single maximum dose of venom of any snake that exists today. A single bite from this snake could effectively kill 42 humans by delivering 590mg of venom into their system.
Even though this snake has incredibly deadly venom, it’s not responsible for a high number of bites in its native range. Thus, it has the most potent venom, but it’s not the deadliest snake.
Which Cobra Injects the Most Venom?
The forest cobra has the largest potential venom injection of any member of the elapid family. The forest cobra can produce a massive dose of venom into its prey. This amount measures 1,102mg of venom, enough to kill 65 humans.
Although the cobra can kill more humans with a single bite than a Caspian cobra, it also injects about twice as much venom. When adjusting for the amount of venom, the Caspian cobra is deadlier than the forest cobra.
Nevertheless, the forest cobra injects the most venom of any of the elapids.
Related Video:
