A group of hikers in Cebu chanced upon two snakes reportedly in combat mode.

The hikers were on their way to Budlaan Falls from Mount Kan-irag in Barangay Sirao, upland Cebu City when they spotted two king cobras that were trying seemingly to coil around each other. 

Danvy Degamo who uses the social media handle “Vydan Omaged” recorded the sighting that went viral. 

“Walo kami na mga kasamahan ko, my plano kasi kami mag-hike every weekend for our Mount Apo na hike,” Degamo said. But along the trail they spotted the two king cobras that were trying to outdo each other.

“Yung kasama ko nakita niya may ahas daw sa gilid ko, di ko yun nakita kasi naka-focus lang ako sa daanan,” Degamo said.

Fear struck the group, so they started scampering to safety.

“We ran from that area, pumunta kami sa safer distance,” Degamo added.

King cobras are one of the most venomous snakes in the world. A person bitten by a king cobra could die in 15 minutes, experts said. 

The bite of this species of snakes is highly lethal because of the neurotoxin that damages the nervous system.

Jazz Ong, a herpetologist, upon review of the video said via “24 Oras” that the cobras were in combat mode in trying to attract a mate.

“Ang nakita ng mga hiker ay two king cobras na nag-e-engage sa isang mating ritual. Kasi may isang female na nearby na na-attract yung mga males at yun kapag naamoy nila yung pheromones mag-engage sila sa isang parang wrestling match and kung sino man ang mananalo yun ang magkakaroon ng right na makipag-mate do'n sa female,” Ong said.

Ong advised that when faced with this situation, the person must get away from the area or find another way to avoid the king cobras on combat mode.

Degamo said that they saw one of the king cobras slithered away. They pursued their hike, he added.

He also said that they alerted fellow hikers they met along the way on the cobra sighting.

(via GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak Desk)