SAN ANTONIO – The monocled cobra has received recent attention after Grant Thompson, 18, was allegedly bitten and killed by the snake in Round Rock, Texas.
"[The monocled cobra] has short fixed fangs and is a venomous snake, found in south and southeast Asia, known to have pretty neurotoxic venom," said Jarrod Forthman, outreach director at the Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo.
Thompson was traveling Wednesday with the snake and other exotic animals and was found unresponsive in a parking lot with puncture wounds on his wrist. The snake has not been found.
According to Forthman, the exotic snake, which dons an iconic spot on its back, is owned by some people in Texas with a proper permit.
"It gets about 6, maybe 7 feet tops and about as thick around as a golf ball," said Forthman.
The situation in Round Rock remains under investigation and anyone who spots the snake is asked to call 911. However, Forthman said there should be no public paranoia.
"No snake's out to get you," said Forthman. "They're not going to be chasing anybody by any means."
Chances are, those looking for the monocled cobra won't find it either, Forthman said.
"It's very hard to find a snake, especially a snake that spends a lot of time underground or hidden," said Forthman.
In addition, there is no concern of the snake breeding and making a new home in Texas. According to Forthman, exotic species such as this would not be able to survive a Texas winter.