THE LONGEST VENOMOUS SNAKE.
Cobra is the common name for members of the family of venomous snakes called Elapidae. They are known for their intimidating looks and deadly bite. Cobras are recognized by the hoods that they flare when angry or disturbed; the hoods are created by the extension of the ribs behind the cobras' heads. These reptiles are found throughout the Philippines, southern Asia, and Africa. Two fluid ounces of a King cobra's venom is all it takes to kill an elephant or 20 people! Its pure poison power makes this deadly creature the longest venomous snake in the world. The King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) originates from southeast Asia and India. It grows to an average length of 3.65-4.5 m (12-15 ft) – that's as long as a family saloon car. Eek! The King cobra has 1-cm (0.5-in) long fangs but digests victims, usually other snakes, by swallowing them whole. The king Cobra will seldom attack unprovoked, but when threatened, however, the Cobra will make full use of its deadly force. It is famous for its use by snake charmers because they respond well to visual cues, and are of spectacular appearance.
A specimen measuring 5.54 m (18 ft 2 in) long was captured alive near Fort Dickson in the state of Negri Sembilan, now Malaysia, in April 1937. It later grew to 5.71 m (18 ft 9 in) in London Zoo, UK. It was destroyed at the outbreak of war in 1939, to avoid the risk of escape.

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BENGAL TIGER: FACES EXTINCTION

The Bengal Tiger is a large, striped cat from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Burma. It lives in a variety of habitats, including rainforests and dense grasslands. The Bengal tiger is a carnivore (meat-eater). It is very patient and has a strong sense of smell. It also has a great vision, which helps it to hunt during the nighttime. Bengal tigers can also swim and move quite swiftly in the water. The tiger often kills its prey with a bite on the neck. It eats deer, pigs, antelopes, cattle, young elephants, and buffalo. Sometimes it also captures birds, lizards, turtles, fishes, frogs and crabs.


Bengal tigers are also called as Indian tiger; they are the most numerous in population than any other tiger subspecies. They were killed as a part of sport carried out by Indian and British royalties.
Tigers are rapidly decreasing in the world. In the last millennium, three sub-species of tigers already lost their existence while five other species are endangered. The first lot of the three sub-species comprised of panthera tigris virgata, panthera tigris balica and panthera tigris sondica. The endangered species are Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), Amur Tiger (Panthera tigris attaica), Chinese Tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis), Indonesian Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) and Indo-Chinese Tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti). To save these tigers, a movement called Save Tiger has been working since 1972. There are sixteen project tiger field areas in our country (India). They are Corbet National Park, Kanha National Park, Indravati National Park, Sarinka National Park, Melghat Sanctuary, Palamou Tiger Reserve, North Simlipal National Park, Buxa Sanctuary, Sunderbans National Park, Manas Sanctuary, Namdapha National Park, Nagarjun Sagar Shvishailam Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park. Breeding of tigers is done very carefully in many zoological gardens.

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THE BLACK BEAR
The Black Bear is the smallest and most widespread of the 3 North American bears. Although common to North America unlike the other two, the Black Bear is by far the most numerous bear on the planet with an estimated population of 700,000, over half of which are found in Canada.
Black bears are generally shy and reclusive animals. They avoid human contact and are not normally aggressive towards people. The only exceptions to this are so called "park bears" which are fed and lose their natural fear of humans. Like its cousin the Grizzly Bear, the Black Bear is a true omnivore, though very much at the vegetarian end of the scale. Fruit, nuts, berries, and roots make up the bulk of its diet, though carrion, insects, honey, fish, and small mammals also feature. It is predominately a lonely animal, but highly intelligent and adaptable which has allowed it to cope more successfully with human encroachment than the grizzly. Its woodland range still extends from Canada and Alaska in the North. It is a highly skilled opportunist able to thrive even in some urban areas. Possessed of great curiosity, resourcefulness, and excellent memory, Black Bears have been known to open door latches, unscrew jar lids, and even recognize specific vehicles and uniforms. It is also highly agile, an excellent climber, and capable of running at 25mph.
Adult Black Bears generally weigh 175-500 pounds and live for 18 years in the wild, though some have been known to exceed 30. Females reach maturity between 4 & 5, with males a year later. Mating normally takes place in June and July with implantation being delayed until October or November as with other bears. After a 70 day gestation period females give birth to 1-5 cubs in a winter den, around 7-8 months after copulation. The cubs are born naked and blind, and they are weaned in July or September of their first year, but stay with their mother through a second winter.
Sadly Black Bears are still legally killed by trophy hunters in North America, but the biggest threat to this beguiling animal is widespread poaching and illegal hunting to meet the insatiable demand for bear gall bladders and paws in the traditional Far East medicine markets.
Black Bears can be seen in their natural habitat throughout spring, summer, and fall on Vancouver Island and in Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba.


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