Cobra killed by lions in zoo

A cobra was killed by lions, two of which also suffered snake bite, when the serpent entered their enclosure at the Tata Zoo in Jamshedpur.

Observing the snake consuming a toad, lioness Salia pounced on it and caught its neck while another lion Jumbo grabbed the snake's tail and the animals cut the snake into two pieces, a press release by the Zoo authorities said.

"Salia was bitten by the cobra while Jumbo also showed symptoms of snake bite. Anti-venom shots have been administered on them and they are under observation," release said.

Animal Keepers, Taraknath, Limsa and Vijay, who saw the incident, took all the lions inside their cells.

The vet checked three other lions and they did not show any symptoms, though as a precautionary measure anti-allergic injection was administered on them. This is the second such incident since November, 2012, the release said.

"The Zoo authorities have put in place all precautionary measures, including spreading of anti-snake retardants, cutting and burning blades of tall grass," it said, adding the snake took advantage of recent rains to enter the lion enclosure.