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Joachim Wendenburg recorded the unlikely encounter and submitted his account of the incident to Latest Sightings. He filmed it while on safari in Chobe National Park, northern Botswana.
Approaching the waterhole
Being at the sighting for over 30 minutes, Joachim filmed and sent us several clips, the first showing his vehicle approaching a shallow pan where a large flock of marabou storks are gathered.
He said, “From a distance, we noticed a group of storks gathered around a waterhole. Curiously, they were standing close together, all intently staring at the ground as if they had discovered something unusual.”
Snake in the (submerged) grass
Intrigued, the safari vehicle approached. As they came abreast of the birds, his companion noticed that there was a snake in the shallow water.
Consequently, they stopped immediately, fascinated to see such an unlikely combination of species.
In the picture above, a snake lies at the feet of the stork in the centre of the image.
Unsure About Cobra Species
As the snake lifted its head above the water, it was immediately clear that it was a cobra, although Joachim could not say what species. There are however, several species that are known to inhabit the region.
A snake in the water?
It is not at all uncommon for snakes to be found in water. They are competent swimmers and many of them, hunt amphibians and soak to aid their shedding process.
The shallow water likely host an abundance of frogs, making this the ideal hunting spot for both storks and snakes.
Aggression
At first, the marabous seem to take the presence of the cobra in their stride. If anything, it is the cobra that gets agitated.
When cobras feel threatened, they typically spread their “hoods” to ward off threats. Cobras can do this by using a combination of specialised muscles and modified ribs. These flatten to create the distinctive shape.
Notoriously aggressive or Frightened?
Some cobra species are known for their aggression, and this cobra, making its hood spread and repeatedly lunging at the storks might seem like a typical cobra move. However, the snake is in a very serious predicament here.
Unsettled by the snake’s threatening behaviour, the storks raised their wings in alarm. Marabou storks have heavy bills capable of inflicting serious damage on the snake.
However, for reasons best known to them, they don’t go for the cobra. Snakes do feature in their diets, but it could be that this individual’s defensive moves makes them weary.
Slither to safety
Joachim said that the interaction between the cobra and the storks continued for roughly half an hour. During this time, the footage shows no sign of injury to either the snake or the birds. Possibly, an abundance of other menu options helped keep the peace.
In conclusion, he said, “Eventually, the confrontation moved away from the water, and the cobra managed to find an underground hole to escape into. An incredible sighting that we won’t soon forget.”
Rewards of curiosity
As seen, Joachim and his companion’s curiosity rewarded them with an unusual sighting. Never take anything for granted on safari — you never know when you might witness an unexpected interspecies encounter.