Can a king cobra kill an African elephant?

The king cobra is native to the forests of South and Southeast Asia, and is a highly venomous snake. These dangerous snakes can be distinguished from other cobras by their size and the shape of their necks.

Cobra vs African elephant, which one will win?

Additionally, they are the longest venomous snakes in the world and prey primarily on other snakes, including their own kind. Furthermore, king cobras are a major symbol of folklore and mythology in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and India. In fact, they are the national reptile of India.

Meanwhile, the African elephant is the largest land creature alive today. They have a fairly wide distribution, being present in all 37 countries in Africa. It is easy to identify an African elephant by the size of its trunk, which it uses to grasp objects and communicate.

Comparing king cobra and elephant

What is the main difference between a king cobra and an elephant?

The biggest difference between a king cobra and an elephant is their size . However, that does not mean that the elephant will automatically win this battle. As mentioned above, elephants are herbivores and do not have predatory behavior, while snakes are excellent hunters and have developed a lot of skills when it comes to stalking their prey.

In addition, this snake can secrete extremely strong venom, which can kill an adult elephant. However, although elephants are not carnivorous and predatory, they can certainly hold their own in a fight. These unique characteristics are essential when determining which species will win. So, if the king cobra fought an African elephant, which one would win? To find out the answer, we need to analyze their pros and cons.

Elephants are herbivores and they do not exhibit predatory behavior.

What are the main factors in the fight between a king cobra and an elephant?

Deciding who would win in a fight between a king cobra and an elephant requires considering many factors. So we compared each animal against five criteria and the one with the most points won the fight.

Size

King cobras and elephants differ greatly in size. King cobras are about 10.4 to 13.1 feet long and weigh an average of 13 pounds. Meanwhile, an African elephant weighs about 6 tons, is 19 to 24 feet long, and has an average height of 11 feet. So this criterion goes to the elephant.

Speed ​​and movement

King cobras have an average land speed of 11 miles per hour, which is faster than humans – we walk at about 3 miles per hour and run at 9 miles per hour. Additionally, these snakes can slither into small spaces, where they patiently wait for prey. Another advantage of king cobras is their swimming ability. They prefer to swim and dive underwater, where they wait for prey. However, they are also excellent climbers, often seen slithering up trees.

Elephants can run at an average speed of 15 miles per hour, but some people claim that their top speed is 25 miles per hour. However, no studies have been done to prove this theory. Elephants are also excellent swimmers and enjoy spending time in water and mud. However, their large size limits their mobility and they are not as agile as the king cobra.

Therefore, the king cobra and the elephant are tied in this round because the elephant is faster but the cobra moves better.

The king cobra has an average land speed of 11 miles per hour.

Defense

Both king cobras and elephants have excellent defenses. For example, king cobras are very fast and have a deadly bite. Their venom is neurotoxic and paralyzing. In fact, it is so toxic that it can kill an adult elephant in just a few hours. They also have body colors and patterns that can blend into their environment, giving them excellent camouflage.

The elephant's main defense is their size. Not many predators will try to take on this giant. Furthermore, they have thick skin that protects their large bodies. Finally, elephants mostly live in herds and are safe in numbers.

Therefore, the elephants win this round.

King cobras and elephants both have excellent defensive capabilities.

Attack Ability

King cobras have fangs that are 0.5 inches long and can inject up to 1,000 mg of venom into their victims, which can be fatal if left untreated. However, they are generally non-confrontational unless provoked and will usually leave.

Elephants have trunks that can lift 770 pounds, and their six-ton ​​bodies can plow through just about anything. Snakes, however, are more agile and can easily get under an elephant's legs, delivering a lethal dose of neurotoxic venom.

However, the elephant still wins this round because even a venomous king cobra cannot protect itself against the elephant's enormous size.

Predatory behavior

King cobras have several predatory behaviors.  First , they are ambush predators.  Second, they use their tongues to smell their prey. Additionally, they strike quickly. Before their prey knows it, they have a deadly dose of venom running through their body.

Elephants do not have predatory habits because they are herbivores. However, they are extremely aggressive animals and will never back down if threatened. Therefore, the king cobra wins this round.

King cobras have a number of predatory behaviors.

Which species would win in a fight between a king cobra and an elephant?

In a fight between a king cobra and an elephant, the elephant would win. Although the king cobra's venom is toxic enough to kill an elephant, the elephant is superior to the snake in almost every category.  It doesn't have the size or strength to be massive; a single stomp of its foot would flatten a king cobra like a pancake. Furthermore, since the cobra's fangs are only 0.5 inches long, they can't even bite through an elephant's thick hide. Also, king cobras tend to avoid confrontation, so they'll slither away if they hear something as large as an elephant approaching.