King cobra loose in Orange County

A king cobra escaped from its owner Wednesday and is now loose in the West Orlando area.

The snake's owner, who is licensed to own the exotic snake, lives in the 4800 block of North Apopka Vineland Road. The snake escaped at some point in the last 24 hours and could have traveled far by this time.

The missing snake is about 8 feet long and has yellow and green coloring.

The King cobra, native to Southeast Asia, is highly venomous. It preys on other reptiles and small mammals. It will rear up and show its fangs when it feels threatened, and it is able to strike from a surprising distance.

If you see the snake, stay clear of it and do not try to handle it. Report the sighting to the Fish and Wildlife Commission's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922).