King cobra attack feared as farmer found dead in Cebu

A farmer who goes out of the house every morning to feed his goats was found dead in Dalaguete, Cebu after his neighbors saw two king cobras.

According to a report on "State of the Nation" by Alan Domingo of GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak, victim Maximo Millan's body bore a puncture wound that looked like an animal bite on his leg.

Residents suspect that Millan might have been the victim of a cobra attack.

The body of the victim will undergo an autopsy to confirm if a puncture wound found on his leg is from a snake bite.

“Very fatal, potentially very fatal. Fatal ito in a sense na in just a few minutes, mag e-effect ang toxic effect sa venom to the point na magiging paralisado ang pasyente at hindi na makakahinga,” said VSMMC Toxicologist Dr. Beethoven Bongon.

(Very fatal, potentially very fatal. This is fatal in a sense that in just a few minutes, the toxic effect of the venom will take effect to the point that you will get paralyzed and will not be able to breathe)

Some cobras have been reported and killed by residents in Cebu City to avoid harm.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Central Visayas, the appearance of king cobras may be an indication of a healthy natural environment in the area.

It is also currently mating season for cobras.

Killing wildlife animals are explicitly prohibited unless in cases of emergencies where they may pose a danger.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News