The authorities at the centre situated about 12 km from the city were jubilant over the success in their efforts at conservation of the reptiles in captivity.
Three king cobras had laid a total of 82 eggs and it will take another seven to 10 days for the remaining eggs to hatch, said Pilikula Nisargadhama Director Jayaprakash Bhandary.
“Let alone laying eggs, it is difficult to make them mate in captivity. The King Cobra Conservation Programme is the first centre to achieve its breeding in captivity in the world,” he told Deccan Herald.
The captive breeding project was taken up as per the Central Zoo Authority directive. A natural forest has been created in the enclosure, which simulates natural conditions in the Western Ghats. This enclosure is not open for visitors. There are 14 king cobras at the captive breeding centre, of which five are female. Movement of these reptiles are observed through closed-circuit TVs. After mating, a female cobra takes 40-45 days to lay eggs. Each cobra lays about 20-40 eggs. Every stage of the breeding activity is being documented. “They take more than 60 to 70 days to hatch. Not all the eggs are fertile even when they breed in their natural habitat,” said Bhandary.