Cobra Spits Venom into Eyes of Sleeping Elderly Woman in West Java, Indonesia

INDRAMAYU, KOMPAS.com – For one elderly woman in Indramayu, West Java, the darkness of sleep nearly became permanent after a Javan spitting cobra (Naja sputatrix) hiding in her room spat venom into her eyes.

Indramayu Regency Firefighters Chief Dedi Supriyadi confirmed to Kompas.com that the encounter did occur.

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“The incident happened on the night of August 7. We had to rush her to Indramayu Public Hospital after the venom swelled her eyes,” Dedi said of the 67-year-old victim, whom he referred as Y.

“Y’s family brought her to the hospital, where she was promptly treated and discharged without any injuries. We found the one-meter snake hiding under a chair before we evacuated it back to the wild, far from residential areas.”

He warned the public that standoffs between humans and snakes might increase during the dry season.

“The snakes will seek shelter from the heat in cool, shaded areas such as houses,” added Dedi, whose men also doubles as snake catchers.

Also read: Two Endangered Javanese Silver Gibbons Take First Steps into the Wild

“Residents should check all parts of their houses thoroughly, especially those nooks and crannies where snakes are likely to hide. They should also check around their bed, under the chair and other furniture, as well as areas where children are likely to play.”

The Javan spitting cobra is listed as a Least Concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature [IUCN], and is listed under a similar category or Appendix II by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora or Cites. However, it is often harvested for their skin and occasionally sold as a pet.

Indonesia’s increasing population puts humans and wildlife on a collision course as the former demand for more land encroached on the latter’s habitat. 

(Writers: Mohamad Umar Alwi, Majalengka Contributor | Editor: Abba Gabrillin)

Sources: 

https://regional.kompas.com/read/2020/08/10/09433911/mata-seorang-nenek-bengkak-disembur-ular-kobra?page=all#page2.