Watch a Juvenile Komodo Dragon Battle a Peeved King Cobra

Continue reading for our analysis...

Animals fight all the time in the wild. Sometimes, a male lion will encroach on another’s territory. Other times, animals fight to the death when they are starving. A video of a battle involving a king cobra and a Komodo dragon is currently trending on social media. 

King cobras are the longest venomous snakes in the world, growing to a maximum length of 14 feet. These serpents are out at night, but they are mostly active during the day. When given the choice, a King cobra will choose to flee rather than engage in conflict. But if provoked repeatedly, they can become very hostile. 

When startled, they lengthen their neck and rear up the front part of their bodies, exposing their fangs and hissing aggressively.  It’s easy for humans and animals to mistake the safe zone around one of these snakes since King Cobras continue to move forward after raising their bodies to attack at a great distance. 

Adults of this species will bite and hang on, and they are capable of striking numerous times in a single confrontation. 

King Cobra vs. Komodo Dragon

The aforementioned video showcases a battle between one of these venomous snakes and a small, yet mighty, Komodo dragon. If you look closely, the Komodo dragon snatches the serpent toward the end of its body.

This action causes the snake to strike the massive lizard several times. Something to keep in mind is that Komodo dragons have incredibly tough skin. The snake can be seen attempting to bite the lizard, but we’re unsure if it was successful. 

At one moment, it looks like the lizard plays dead, but quickly starts fighting again. If the King Cobra did indeed inject venom into the Komodo dragon, the dragon would likely perish. In the meantime, the animal may try to eat the snake, leaving no winner in the end. 

Komodo Dragon Facts

Being the top predators in their habitats, komodo dragons rule it. These lizards can dive up to 15 feet, run quickly in short bursts up to 12 miles per hour, and climb trees expertly when they are young thanks to their powerful claws. 

Komodo dragons can use their tail as support when standing on their hind legs to capture difficult-to-reach prey. As they get older, they mostly use their claws as weapons because they can’t climb due to their enormous size. 

Komodo dragons are carnivores. Although we know that these animals eat mostly carrion, they often grab live animals such as mice, deer, or snakes. The Komodo dragon’s scales feature sensory plaques that link to nerves to improve the animal’s sense of touch. Many of the scales are strengthened with bone, making it hard for animals to penetrate. 

How Large Can King Cobras Get?

The king cobra’s average size is 10 to 12 feet, but it can reach up to 18 feet. King cobras inhabit regions from northern India, extending east to southern China (including Hong Kong and Hainan), and southward across the Malay Peninsula. They also range eastward to western Indonesia and the Philippines.

The longest recorded king cobra measured 18 feet 4 inches when captured, extending to an impressive 18 feet 8 inches at its maximum length. This remarkable snake dwarfs the typical king cobra, which grows around 11 to 13 feet in length on average. The largest of its kind was captured in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, in 1937.

Is it Normal Behavior for a Komodo Dragon to Fight a King Cobra?

Komodo dragons are known for consuming snakes. On the other hand, king cobras are known to feed on large non-venomous snakes like rat snakes or venomous species such as sea kraits. The two reptiles have distinct primary prey, which may influence their interactions.

While it’s unclear in the video who wins the fight, our experts guess that in a fight between a Komodo dragon and a king cobra, the Komodo dragon would likely emerge victorious.

Both are ambush predators, the king cobra relies on its venom to kill its enemy before being attacked and killed. The Komodo dragon’s tough skin might make it challenging for the cobra to bite the lizard and release its venom.

Thus the Komodo dragon was likely the victor in this scene.