Escaped King Cobra Earns Instagram Fame

As the search for an escaped male king cobra continues in the Orlando area, the snake is gaining fame on Instagram.

A parody account created under the name “king_cobra_orlando” chronicles the creature’s fictional exploits in the some of the region’s most popular tourist spots. One photo posted to the account shows a superimposed cobra at SeaWorld. Another has Disney’s Pocahontas posing with the creature. The snake, it seems, is also an avid wake boarder.

“Sup, ladies. I busted out and now I’m livin’ free an’ easy,” the account’s title page says. Since its launch, the Instagram account has netted more than 5,600 followers.

All joking aside, the search for the cobra remains active in the Orlando area although its intensity has waned since it first began.

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The cobra escaped from Discovery Channel star Michael Kennedy’s home sometime last week. Kennedy, who had been away for two days, is accused of waiting a full day to report its disappearance. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has since cited him for failure to act swiftly in notifying authorities about the disappearance. The star of “Airplane Repo” also faces an Oct. 7 court date for allegedly receiving the snake from an unlicensed entity. Kennedy is licensed to own exotic animals, including king cobras.

When Kennedy did notify FWC, an intensive search for the creature was launched, focusing mostly on Kennedy’s heavily wooded property. As the search continued, nearby residents stayed in their homes and one local school cancelled outdoor activities.

By Friday, Sept. 4, FWC had constructed snake traps on the property and began scaling back its search-and-recover efforts. According to several news sources, wildlife officers are checking the traps regularly still.

King cobras are not native to Florida. Considered among the most venomous snakes on the planet, the creatures can reach up to 18 feet in length, according to National Geographic. While their venom isn’t considered the most potent, “the amount of neurotoxin they can deliver in a single bite – up to two-tenths of a fluid ounce – is enough to kill 20 people, or even an elephant,” National Geographic’s website states. The carnivores are primarily found in China, India and Southeast Asia.

As the snake remains on the loose, residents in the area are urged to be cautious. Anyone that spots the creature is asked to call 1-888-404-FWCC immediately.

WFTV/NDN video screenshot