Forest Cobra Encore

I absolutely love to run.  When I run, I feel free, my mind becomes clear, and it is my reprieve from my daily stresses and obligations.   Running started out as way to stay thin and tan when I was in my teens.  In fact, we referred to high school track & field as "AP Suntan."  Added bonus - I didn't have to participate in regular gym class if I was on the track team.   After high school, I continued to run in order to reconcile two of my two opposing passions: eating and clothes.  I managed to continue to run throughout university, grad school, work, pregnancy, as well as through our multiple overseas assignments.  Zambia was  particularly "runner friendly."  In Lusaka, Zambia, the weather is absolutely beautiful (think southern California), the city is small, and the crime rate is relatively low (at least for Africa).  Also, I had a wonderful running group with whom I trained.  I typically ran 6-8 miles per day, and then 10-14 miles on Fridays during that posting.  I am currently in Kinshasa, and as I have eluded to previously on this blog, it isn't exactly the most favorable location for runners.  The only RSO approved places for running are 1) the river loop adjacent to the Ambassador's Residence, 2) the treadmill, and 3) my garden.  The river loop is 1.7 miles on a fairly heavily guarded section of the Congo River.  It is quite the social scene, and I don't mind running at this location during the day.  However, my schedule is pretty booked during the daylight hours, and so that alternative isn't feasible.  I do have a treadmill, but that contraption removes most of the joy from running.  Anyway, running in my garden is the best option for me.  It takes a few minutes to run a lap of the inside perimeter, and so it is a reasonably sized space for this activity.  Also, we have so many towering, thick trees that I can run during a fairly steady rain and not get completely soaked.  Furthermore, our property is flooded with security lights during the night, which makes it possible for me to run 24/hrs per day.

ANYWAY, I had just finished running on the evening of 30 November, and as I stepped on our back veranda, I noticed a 6.5 foot forest cobra not more than 2 meters in front of me.  It is amazing how sleek, glossy, and absolutely terrifying this creature is!  I've always loved reptiles, and I still do, with the small exception of the ones occupy the space where my children play and that are capable of administering a lethal dose of neurotoxin in one bite.  Upon seeing this serpent, I immediate shouted for the boys to get in the house and for Charles to come outside immediately.  The boys are outside practically every day, and so I knew that I couldn't let the cobra get away.    After our first unsuccessful attempt to terminate the snake, it crawled up the bars of one of our living room windows.  All three boys were intently watching the cobra (this was even better than what was on AFN-TV!).  Soren then thought it would be an excellent idea to pound on the window at that moment, which of course caused the cobra jump down and come at Charles and me with its hood raised.  BTW, cobras move EXTREMELY fast!  I blame any silver hair that I currently have on this incident.  The cobra then turned around and climbed into a wagon filled with various sporting equipment.  The scary thing was that it was impossible to see the 6.5' creature in the toys.  After a bit of prodding on our part with the swimming pool net and fire extinguisher (don't ask), the cobra finally left the wagon.  Charles then pinned it approximately 18 inches behind its head with the end of the pole.  I then finished it off with a shovel.  Soren, Anders, and Anson were all staring wide-eyed and open-mouthed during the entire incident.  Perhaps now they'll take me more seriously.  I do feel bad that this amazing creature had to die, but unfortunately I cannot call animal control to remove it from the premises.  And yes, I still run in our garden at night.



Forest Cobra Behind Anson's Bike

 


Soren with Forest Cobra (6.5 feet long!) 30 November 2010



Framed Skin of Gabon Viper that Visited our Back Yard Spring 2010