Beautiful Forest cobra from the Congo River

Beautiful Forest cobra from the Congo River

Postby Warren Klein » Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:00 pm

On Saturday night the 07/04/12 at about 21:30pm I was called out to the LNG jetty located in Soyo Northern Angola in the mouth of the Congo River to capture a large black snake which was lying across the grid walk way of the jetty. As I approached the dark snake, I knew immediately that it was a Forest cobra Naja melanoleuca but it had already seen me and I only just managed to grab it's tail as it slipped out of my hands and dropped +-20m into the river below. I only just got a glimpse of this snakes markings and coloration and can't express the disappointment I felt as I thought I had lost this beautiful specimen to the Congo. The jetty was well illuminated and could clearly see the cobra swimming bellow almost teasing me to jump in after her but to my surprise she raised her body up out of the water and within seconds climbed up a ladder bellow the jetty. She had obviously been swimming in the river for some time and was keen to get onto “terra firma” so I stood waiting very still at the top of the ladder for this beauty to come to me and this time was not going to let her get away. I managed to catch her on a platform at the top of the jetty ladder. I was in disbelieve of just how pretty she was and that I had got a second chance to catch her after she had already escaped into the Congo river. I can honestly say without a doubt that out of all the Forest cobras I have seen in collections and the numerous I have captured in the wild both in Northern Zulu land as well as in Northern Angola that this specimen if by far the most beautiful. As you can see the normal yellow/white of the forest cobra colour is replaced by a beautiful caramel/ orange and this specimen also has a monocle like shape on the back of the hood reminiscent of an Asian Naja kaouthia or N. atra. I will call her my Caramel Monocellate Forest Cobra!

The location of the capture on LNG jetty in Soyo Angola
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Note the almost hart shaped pattern on the back of the neck
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This girl is just full of surprises as I have never observed a Forest cobra to shame death just like a Naja annulifera or a Rinkhals
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What an impressive cobra!
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It was a very memorable capture and a privilege to have worked with her
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Regards
Warren Klein HH
An inaccurate naturalist is a pest and a danger, forever perpetuating illogical deductions and landing later naturalists in trouble. Damm and blast them all to hell in the most painful way. C.J.P. Ionides
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Re: Beautiful Forest cobra from the Congo River

Postby bitis keeper » Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:06 pm

Now thats something you dont see everyday!!
beautiful specimen
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Re: Beautiful Forest cobra from the Congo River

Postby mrVynes » Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:18 pm

:shock: wow that must be the coolest looking snake I've ever seen!

Thanks for sharing.
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Re: Beautiful Forest cobra from the Congo River

Postby Tagged » Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:36 pm

What I would give for that snake !
Absolute stunner !!
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Re: Beautiful Forest cobra from the Congo River

Postby Smeegle » Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:40 pm

All I can say Is WOW!!!

Thanks for sharing, nice to see that there are still manly men out there in darkest Africa:)
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Re: Beautiful Forest cobra from the Congo River

Postby Mitton » Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:41 pm

That is a real beauty man, great find.
Thanks for sharing.
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Re: Beautiful Forest cobra from the Congo River

Postby shadowfoot » Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:43 pm

What a stunner! Very beautiful colours and that heart shape on the back is awesome. How long was she?
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Re: Beautiful Forest cobra from the Congo River

Postby Mr Venom » Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:13 pm

Awesome Forest cobra!!!! The marking on the back looks just like a pair of lips, haha.

Very very beautiful snake, thanks a LOT for sharing!

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Re: Beautiful Forest cobra from the Congo River

Postby Fooble » Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:41 pm

Stunning Photographs.
Well done nice nice story too!
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Re: Beautiful Forest cobra from the Congo River

Postby Sly » Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:50 pm

Excellent!!! nice to see and hear a happy ending to that and also get the shots...nice work, beautiful Forest..
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Re: Beautiful Forest cobra from the Congo River

Postby Eyelash » Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:39 pm

Stunning snake and pics Warren ! Thanks a lot for sharing !

Regards.
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Re: Beautiful Forest cobra from the Congo River

Postby Warren Klein » Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:44 am

Thanks for everyone’s good comments. This snake was the highlight of my past six weeks here in Angola but I'm happy to be starting my journey back home to SA today!
An inaccurate naturalist is a pest and a danger, forever perpetuating illogical deductions and landing later naturalists in trouble. Damm and blast them all to hell in the most painful way. C.J.P. Ionides
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Re: Beautiful Forest cobra from the Congo River

Postby Daniellouw » Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:00 am

This is truly a beautiful snake. Thank you for sharing. Great photos
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Re: Beautiful Forest cobra from the Congo River

Postby poobsta » Wed Apr 11, 2012 11:13 am

Wow I have never seen a forest with that patterning or deep yellow colour before truly stunning snake!
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Re: Beautiful Forest cobra from the Congo River

Postby Ruan Stander » Wed Apr 11, 2012 3:05 pm

Gorgeous. Feels like I can jizz my pants when I look at that beauty. But I never even knew they occurred over there :smt017
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