It spits right at you with perfect aim.
Its venom can burn your skin.
And if it hits your eyes
you could go blind.
This is one disrespectful snake.
Here's How to Survive
a spitting cobra attack.
There are about 20 species of spitting cobra.
You can find some of them
in Africa's savannas,
deserts and tropical forests.
The rest are waiting for you in Asia,
where they prefer mangroves,
swamps and rice paddies.
The longest known type
is Africa's Ashe’s spitting cobra,
which can grow up to 2.4 m (8 ft) in length.
Stick around to see some tips
on how to survive an encounter
with this dangerous reptile
and its flying venom.
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"Oh my God!"
If you live in a place
where spitting cobras are endemic,
you can keep them away by ensuring
the surroundings of your house are clear.
This means keeping debris and trash
or anything that could attract rodents
out of reach.
This way, you won't have snakes
looking for a snack at your house.
The spitting cobra can look very different
depending on what specific species
you’re looking at.
They can be red,
black or brown with green.
Some have stripes,
spots or monocles on their hood.
Their fangs aim towards
the front of their mouth
and they are typically very small
compared to a non-spitting cobra.
But all you need to know
is that they are still cobras.
Spitting or not,
all of them are venomous.
If it expands its hood
and rears up the top third of its body
in a defensive posture,
you might be in danger
and should back off immediately.
Do you think you're safe from spitting cobras
cause you live far from Africa and Asia?
Well, think again.
In 2021,
a woman in North Carolina called the police
claiming to have seen
an exotic-looking snake outside.
After seeing photos
of the black and white striped snake,
they identified it as an
African zebra spitting cobra.
The zebra cobra had escaped
from a local citizen
named Christopher Gifford,
who kept 75 snakes and lizards
in his parents’ home.
After three days of searching,
the police received a call from a reporter
who had seen the snake
and gave them an approximate location.
They caught it by putting
glue strips on the area.
Animal control then brought it
to a safe place for snakes
where they released it unhurt.
The woman and the reporter
both did the right thing by calling the police
and keeping their distance.
If you find yourself face-to-face
with a spitting cobra,
don't make any sudden movements.
The cobra will perceive
and recognize your face immediately.
If you move your head abruptly,
it will be much more likely to spit at you.
Their spitting range goes from about
1 m (3.3 ft) to 3 m (10 ft).
They often aim for the eyes
and have impressive accuracy.
According to scientists,
they likely evolved their ability
to aim for the face
after Homo sapiens began
to interact with them.
Slowly put anything you have at hand
between your face and the cobra.
This is a staring contest
you don't want to win.
If you don't have any objects,
use your arm or hand.
Anything to protect your eyes.
Their venom is highly cytotoxic,
meaning it can destroy cells.
If it lands on your eyes,
get away from the cobra,
irrigate your eyes as much as possible
and seek medical attention.
If you don't act quickly,
the venom could damage your eye tissue
and even cause blindness.
Evolution has given the spitting cobras
a perfect weapon to keep predators away.
Unlike regular cobras,
spitting cobras have high levels of proteins
called phospholipase A2.
This toxin mixes with the regular proteins
in their venom,
creating a concoction that causes a massive
pain response in nerves.
If the venom hits your skin,
prepare to feel a burning sensation
and develop some painful blisters.
In case you didn't notice,
these reptiles are trying very hard
to keep you away.
And although their bite
is typically reserved for hunting prey,
if you continue to threaten it,
they will bite you too.
Their venom can inflict damage
on nerve and cardiac cells.
If you get bitten,
you better get medical help immediately.
A tourniquet can concentrate
the venom in one area,
which might lead to necrosis and amputation.
Remove your jewelry
and apply a light bandage
while you rush to a hospital.
Prangmart Cheroenwai
was a snake catcher in Thailand.
Once, while trying to catch a spitting cobra,
he recklessly grabbed its tail
with his bare hands.
The snake turned rapidly and bit his thumb.
It took him two hours
to get to the nearest hospital.
He was given the antivenom
but unfortunately,
he had an allergic reaction to it.
He spent about 15 days in the hospital
while doctors treated his hand
and controlled his infection.
But he made it out alive.
The big scar on his hand
is a reminder of how dangerous it can be
to face these animals without protection.
Spitting cobras can be scary,
but not as much as their supreme leader.
Wanna know how quickly
a King Cobra bite can kill you?
Find out here.