The Cape Cobra (Naja nivea) is a moderately-sized cobra inhabiting the arid regions of Southern Africa. Often reaching 4-6 feet long (120-180 cm) long, the deadly creature produces a neurotoxin designed to shut down the respiratory system. The bright uniform yellow or sometimes brown-speckled variety is found in the Kalahari Desert and has been the demise of many meerkats.
Venom[]
Its venom is a nerve-poison that kill prey in minutes. When it looks for prey, its targets include meerkat pups and other small animals. Once it finds it, it flicks its tongue out to smell the animal; if it smells like prey, then it strikes, injecting a nerve-poison that shuts down the respiratory system. If encountered, it may fight back by biting, injecting more venom each time. It tries to avoid humans, but if trapped, it will fight. The best thing to do is leave it alone.
Encounters with Cape Cobras[]
They have been known to cause death to meerkats and other small animals. Some animals survive due to young age and size. However, older and smaller animals are know to die within twenty-four hours. One of the most famous cases for a meerkat was the death of Flower Whiskers, who was bitten on the head by a Cape cobra while she was defending her family and adopted pup Axel; this event was seen on Meerkat Manor. Many meerkats have succumbed to the deadly bite, like Eleusine, a former dominant female of the Elveera. They have also been known to cause the deaths of lion cubs and other small animals, like mice, lizards, and small birds. There are almost no attacks on people where they have antivein, however a lot people still die in parts that have little or no antivein. Most often, attacks on humans are an accident and merely the snake defending itself. Most people who get bitten are not wearing shoes and walking in tall grass, where they forage or grow their food. Cape cobras also give what is know as a dry bite, which means there was no venom injected, but the wound still hurts enough to drive off its attacker.