Efforts are underway to protect king cobra, a rare species of snake, at Koshepani forest at Beni Municipality-9 in Myagdi.

The Road Division Forest Office held an extensive interaction on the ecological importance of snake and the ways to conserve them. The programme imparted the information to students and teachers from Rastriya Secondary School, people’s representatives and locals.

Keshab Chokhal, a zoologist, said, “King cobra (Ophiophagus Hannah), which is commonly found in Tarai and some protected areas, is lately migrating to mid-hills largely due to climate change.”

Efforts from the government and community levels are needed to protect king cobra, which in Nepali is also called Kalinag or Rajnag, said Chokhal.