"We received a King Cobra, weighing 7 kilograms and 14 feets long from Rajasthan forest department. The rare species was seized from a private home and handed over to us," Dr Panneerselvam, Veterinary officer, Delhi zoo said.
The deadly reptile is the first one to come to the zoo after ten years and the only one here currently.
"We are getting a King Cobra after 10 years and it is the only one right now at the Delhi zoo. It is being kept under observation for possible wounds or tick infestation," he said.
"We are currently giving half-a-kilogram chicken to the animal once in a week. Usually the diet of King Cobra includes rat snakes and water snakes but we are sticking to chicken as it was fed the same while in custody of the private owner," the officer said.
40-year-old Lokamnath who has been assigned to train the animal says that the Cobra was quite inactive when it was brought to the zoo but is now picking up on its movements.
"We make the animal exercise by releasing it in the park every day. It was very inactive when it was brought here, but gradually it is picking up its movements," says the trainer.