Parents and students at Clarcona Elementary school are still waiting to hear whether school district officials think it is safe enough for children at the school to play outside again.

The students have been stuck inside ever since Florida Fish and Wildlife crews began searching for an 8-foot-long king cobra that escaped in the area.

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An audio message sent to parents Wednesday night from Principal Dr Robert Strenth let them know the efforts he personally went through trying to ensure student safety at the elementary school.

"I climbed underneath the portables and found no evidence of a snake or any other animal," Strenth said.

Parents we spoke with have mixed feelings about the children being kept inside the school all day, day after day.

"Well I think it's not safe for them," said parent Reginal Francois. "Having a cobra around here, you don't know where he's coming from and you have kids around, you don't know what might happen."

"With teachers around, yeah because there are other snakes that they have to worry about," said parent Wally Castillo. "There are spiders that they have to worry about. There are so many other things. One cobra snake, you can see it. You'll be able to see it."

Some neighbors of the school don't agree and they are getting frustrated with the slithering serpent.

"It ain't fair, it's a nuisance," said neighbor Dexter Nelson. "You know everybody is scared. You go to do some work in your yard, you've got to look around because you don't want to get bit by the snake. The thing can take down an elephant!"

Nelson also says the owner of that snake should have to pay for the ongoing search.

That owner, Mike Kennedy, was cited by state wildlife officials for not reporting the cobra's disappearance in a "timely manner."

FWC set up multiple traps baited with dead snakes to help catch the 8-foot-long venomous snake. The idea is the missing king cobra will be lured to the traps by the scent of the dead snakes.

King cobras feed almost exclusively on other snakes.

While they have high hopes for catching the snake soon, an FWC spokesman said at least one patrol officer will be sent out on a regular basis to check traps and activities on the 5-acre property called Dragon Ranch, located on the 4800 block of North Apopka Vineland Road, east of Ocoee.

Kennedy has been cited in the past for not keeping dangerous reptiles in secure enclosures.

Kennedy is the star of the Discovery Channel TV series "Airplane Repo." He is also a self-proclaimed exotic animal dealer.

The snake is supposed to be kept inside what was supposed to be an escape proof enclosure, but it somehow got out last Wednesday.

FWC is warning residents not to approach the reptile if they see it and instead urge them to contact the agency's alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).


A king cobra's hood is not always flared out. The picture of the snake with the hood out is Kennedy's female king cobra. The other picture shows what a cobra would look like without the hood out. (PHOTO/FWC)

Snake expert's advice on staying safe

Once it escaped, the snake likely looked for a safe hiding place, according to David Tetzlaff, director of the Central Florida Zoo.

"An animal that is captive and then is not in its usual home, before it thinks of eating or anything, it thinks, 'How do I keep myself safe?'" Tetzlaff said.

Because king cobras — and most snakes, for that matter — aren't comfortable in the heat of the day, they most likely will move at night, when it is cooler. Tetzlaff said a king cobra would try to find the closest, darkest and coolest place to hide, such as under rocks or in sheds and open garages.

Residents near the area should keep their doors closed. If they go out at night, take a flashlight, Tetzlaff warned.

"If you live in the area, don't walk outside at night unless you have to," Tetzlaff said.

Most snake bites occur on the hands and fingers or below the knee, so make sure to be aware of your surroundings, especially at night. Do not reach under an object outside at night without checking it out first.

Because most king cobras that are house-kept are fed about once a week, Tetzlaff said the possibility of the escaped cobra being hungry should not be much of a concern. The snake will be more concerned about staying safe and hidden, rather than looking for food.

Because king cobras are from the Southeast Asia region, they are familiar and comfortable in the Florida climate. Tetzlaff said if this king cobra isn't caught soon, it could potentially survive for a while, including through the winter.

"I hope it's found soon for peace of mind, but even when temperatures get in the 40s, they will find a hole in the ground where they will feel safe and not fully exposed, and they'll make it through," Tetzlaff said.

King cobra facts

From National Geographic

  • Native to India, southern China and Southeast Asia
  • Comfortable in trees, on land and in water
  • Feed mainly on other snakes, lizards, eggs and small mammals
  • A single bite has enough neurotoxin to kill 20 people or an elephant.
  • Can go up to 18 feet in length
  • Can live in the wild up to 20 years
  • When confronted, they can raise up to one-third of their bodies off the ground and still move forward to attack
  • However, they are shy and avoid humans whenever possible