West African Banded Cobra

DESCRIPTION:

The West African Banded Cobra is also known as the ‘banded forest cobra’. A large forest cobra with adults reaching 223 cm. The body is relatively slender, becoming thickset with age. Color above and below black or brownish black, with 3–8 broad, cream-coloured cross-bands on the front part of the body encircling the neck, with each cream-colored band is partly divided by a thin black crossband.

HABITS & HABITAT:

West African Banded Cobra’s can be found in forested valleys and forest patches in West African savannas and savanna woodlands. Forest cobras are mostly active during the day, but can be active at night.. Forest cobras are terrestrial (ground-living) but climb well and spend a lot of time in trees, up to10 meters above ground. Forest cobras are generally good swimmers..It is an alert and agile species of cobra. If cornered or molested will rear up spreading a hood, sometimes quite high, and it may rush forward and make a determined effort to bite.

DISTRIBUTION:

Benin, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Chad.

VENOM:

The venom of the West African Banded Cobra is primarily neurotoxic, and bites result in severe neurotoxicity; Deaths from respiratory failure due to severe neurotoxicity have been reported, but most victims will survive if prompt administration of antivenom is undertaken; The cytotoxic components of the venom may cause progressive swelling and tissue damage.

SYMPTOMS:

The bite is relatively painless, but death from paralysis of the diaphram effecting breathing may be rapid; Nausea and vomiting; Tachycardia; Ptosis; Drowsiness; Limb paralysis; Hearing loss; Inability to speak; Dizziness; Ataxia (poor muscle control); Shock; Hypotension; Abdominal pain; Fever; Pallor (pale appearance); Other neurological and respiratory symptoms.

FIRST AID:

Do not use traditional remedies; Keep calm; Apply pressure bandage if possible; Remove restrictive clothing or jewellery (rings, bangles, watch, shoe); Immediately proceed to a medical facility that keeps antivenom.

ANTIVENOM:

No specific antivenom produced as bites are rare, but EchiTAb-Plus-ICP polyvalent antivenom might neutralize some of the venom components.