Snakes on a Train: How King Cobras Are Using India's Railways to Spread Across the Country (2026)

The world's busiest railway network is inadvertently facilitating the spread of king cobras across India, a new study reveals. These venomous snakes, known for being the world's longest, are hitching rides on trains, leading to unexpected discoveries in areas far from their natural habitat. The Western Ghats king cobra, a vulnerable species in India, has been spotted in Goa, a tourist hotspot, via trains, contrary to its usual preference for forested areas and riverbanks. This phenomenon raises concerns about the impact of human infrastructure on wildlife migration and the potential consequences for both species and ecosystems.