Munna Mohapatra, a resident of Bhubaneswar in eastern India, heard an unusual noise coming from the birdcage in his house on November 5. When he went to check on his six exotic Zebra Finch birds, he was shocked to see a cobra inside the cage.

The deadly snake had eaten two birds and two more were lying dead on the floor. The two birds, which were still alive, were making desperate noises for help.

Munna took a broom and pushed the cobra to one end of the cage and called Snake Helpline for help.

A two-member rescue team led by Silka Selony went to the spot and took the cobra out of the cage, which was later released in the wild. "The cobra had swallowed two birds and the bulge in its abdomen prevented it from slipping out easily.”


Subhendu Mallik, General Secretary of Snake Helpline, said: "Snakes are drawn to caged birds. People should place their bird cages at a good height to prevent snakes from climbing inside."