cobra in the kitchen

This morning my work at our project site was suddenly interrupted by an uncharacteristically urgent cry from Kalam, the cook. Reaching for some food on a lower shelf in the kitchen, he was startled by a noise. Pulling his hand back and looking down, he found himself staring at the raised hood of a black cobra.

Here's a little clearer picture taken a few minutes later -- after it was lured outside and then clubbed with a bamboo pole. (The final job was done by the only woman on the premises -- our farmer's wife)

The Naja kaouthia, or Monocled Cobra, contributes it's fair share to the making this part of the world the highest density for snake bites.

(From Wikipedia - Snakebite)

So now we can add cobras to the list of occasional house-mates -- along with mice, shrews, geckos, spiders (some 3-4 inch diameter variety), cockroaches, various ant species, and sparrows.