Name: A king cobra bite -- and a scientific discovery
Uploaded: 2021-12-17T19:47:23Z
Duration: 5 min 32 s
Description: A king cobra has enough venom to kill 10 people in a single bite. Recounting his near-death experience after being bitten by one of these majestic yet deadly snakes, conservationist and TED Fellow Gowri Shankar shares the epiphany he had when the antivenom failed: there's more than one unique species of king cobra.

A king cobra has enough venom to kill 10 people in a single bite. Recounting his near-death experience after being bitten by one of these majestic yet deadly snakes, conservationist and TED Fellow Gowri Shankar shares the epiphany he had when the antivenom failed: there's more than one unique species of king cobra.

A king cobra bite -- and a scientific discovery

A brush with death from a king cobra bite led to the discovery that these iconic snakes are actually four genetically distinct species, not one. The venom packed enough power to kill ten people, yet the antivenom failed, revealing a scientific mystery. This breakthrough highlights how overlooked species differences can threaten conservation and medical treatment. Saving king cobras now means protecting multiple unique species and the biodiverse forests they call home.