Cape cobra (Naja nivea).

In the present paper, we report the sighting of the King Cobra from Yuksam village (27022’12.5’’N & 88013’27.0’’E) bordering Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve in the West District of Sikkim, India. The snake was observed in a drain adjoining human settlement (altitude: 1820m) on 06 December 2009 at 0805hr. Images 2, 3 & 4 show various aspects of the snake. It was visually estimated to be about 3−3.5 m in length with all characteristic features clearly distinct. A few days later, the snake was found to have moved a distance of about 200m and taken refuge near Karthok (27022’14.2’’N & 88013’21.2’’E), a sacred lake at an altitude of 1840m and in later days was oftenly seen basking on a rock near bamboo thickets adjoining the lake.