A king cobra, scientifically known as Ophiophagus hannah, was sighted in a residential area in Barangay Tampucao, Lambunao, Iloilo.
The sighting was confirmed by the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources (MENRO) on Monday, April 14.
The snake, found by residents last month, was identified by experts as king cobra based on photos acquired by MENRO.
MENRO sent the photos to the Philbio Deography Wildlife, Philippine SnakeID and the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PBCFI).
It was the first reported sighting of the highly venomous snake in Lambunao, the largest town in Iloilo in terms of land area.
Out of fear, the residents killed the snake.
According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the months spanning from January to April signify the mating season for king cobras, prompting their movement beyond their usual habitats in search of mates.IMT
