Mrunal Manmay Dash

Honorary wildlife warden, Suvendu Mallik on Tuesday filed a complaint with the Crime Branch of Odisha Police terming the recent discovery of an albino cobra as fake.

Mallik alleged that the cobra was not an albino, and in fact, it was a regular monocled cobra painted white to make it look like an albino cobra.

Speaking to OTV, Mallik said, “The person who caught the snake never gave any information to the local news channels, he rather chose national media to announce the albino cobra.”

“Moreover, when I asked the Chief District Veterinary Officer (CDVO) who had given his statement confirming the albino cobra to the national media, he replied he never saw the snake in person and he only confirmed the news by watching the video of the snake.”

"When I saw the picture of the snake the CDVO had sent me, my doubt was confirmed. Paint was clearly applied on its body as a result, the reptile could not move after being released in a field. It is dangerous for its life,” he added.

After looking at the cobra’s picture, Mallik contacted the Crime Branch and filed a complaint with them including the Odisha PCCF. They have assured him to look into the matter.

It is pertinent to mention here that Ajay Lenka, from Ranapur forest range under Khordha forest division claimed to have rescued the rare albino cobra, the news of which was aired on several national media platforms.

Albino cobra, one of the rare types of cobras found in this part of the world, possess a distinct white colour due to some alteration in pigmentation. They are generally monocled but albinism has also been found in the spectacled cobras as well.

  • Reported by:
  • ALOK MOHANTY
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