The King Cobra's venom, which is composed mostly of proteins and polypeptides, is produced in specialized salivary glands located just behind the animal's eyes (as in other snakes). When biting its prey, venom is forced through the snake's half-inch (1.25 cm) fangs and into the wound. In the past, King Cobra venom was treated as 1.7 mg/kg in LD/50 value (which is one of the least toxic elapids.) However, this is not always true. According to the recent toxinology study, the LD/50 of Chinese King Cobra venom is 0.34 mg/kg-0.46 mg/kg which means it is more venomous than most of the other cobra species, like chinese cobra. Although this toxicity is still weaker than some of the other elapids (like taipan, krait, etc), King Cobras can deliver larger quantities of venom than most other species. It injects 380-600 mg of venom(which is enough to kill 20-40 grown men) in a single bite, and can even kill an elephant within 3 hours. One bite from a King Cobra can cause death within 15 minutes for a human. However, death usually occurs between 30-45 minutes.
The King Cobra's venom is primarily neurotoxic and thus attacks the victim's central nervous system and induces severe pain, blurred vision, vertigo, drowsiness, and paralysis. Envenomation progresses to cardiovascular collapse, and the victim falls into a coma. Death soon follows because of respiratory failure. There are two types of antivenom made specifically to treat King Cobra envenomations. The Red Cross in Thailand manufactures one, and the Central Research Institute in India manufactures the other; however, both are made in small quantities and are not widely available. Ohanin, a protein component of the venom, causes hypolocomotion and hyperalgesia in mammals. Other components have cardiotoxic, cytotoxic and neurotoxic effects.
Despite the King Cobra's fearsome reputation and deadly bite, it is a shy and reclusive animal, avoiding confrontation with humans as often as possible. There are other venomous snakes within this species' range, in fact, that are responsible for more fatal snake bites than the King Cobra, such as the Monocled Cobra, or Russell's Viper .
In Burma, King Cobras are often used by female snake charmers. The charmer is usually tattooed with three pictograms using an ink mixed with snake venom; superstition holds that it protects the charmer from the snake. The charmer kisses the snake on the top of its head at the end of the show.
