Here in India, this cobra is heading directly for a village. It has detected the scent
of prey.
Nearly two metres long, it has enough venom in a single bite to kill 10 people.
And when they are hunting, there is no place they won't go. A toad.
Each tip of its forked tongue collects chemical signals from the prey
and helps to reveal its position.
But up close, the snake relies on movement to precisely locate its prey.
The toad must pick its moment to escape. Every time it touches the ground,
the toad leaves behind a scent.
It can hide, but the trail will lead the snake to it. These cobras don't just hunt here,
they live here. They have found a home where the Hindu villagers revere them
and consider them to be demigods.
One of the most feared animals on the planet has found a place where they are accepted
and can coexist with human beings.
Encounters between cobras and toads can vary depending on the species involved and the circumstances of the encounter. Typically, cobras are carnivorous snakes known for their venomous bite, while toads are amphibians that often secrete toxins as a defense mechanism.
If a cobra encounters a toad, it may perceive it as potential prey, especially if the toad is small enough to be swallowed. Cobras are skilled hunters and may strike at the toad with their venomous fangs to incapacitate it before consuming it.
On the other hand, some toad species have toxic skin secretions that can be harmful or even deadly to predators. If the toad feels threatened by the cobra, it may release these toxins as a defense mechanism. While the toxins may not necessarily kill the cobra outright, they can deter the snake from attempting to eat the toad.
Ultimately, the outcome of an encounter between a cobra and a toad can depend on factors such as the size and species of the animals involved, as well as their individual behaviors and circumstances.
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