Public security

Escaped 8-Foot King Cobra Sets Off Panicked Search in Orlando, Florida

If you’re enjoying your Labor Day weekend in Orlando, keep an eye on yours toes, because there’s a king cobra on the loose. The 8-foot snake was reported missing on September 2, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission launched a citywide search the next day.

King cobras are carnivorous animals that can grow up to 18 feet long. The venom in one cobra bite is enough to kill 20 people or an elephant, but they rarely attack humans. If a king cobra feels it's being threatened, it can attempt a bite and is capable of raising the upper third of its body off the ground while continuing to move toward its prey.