Three king cobra nests uncovered in Yunnan reveal record-size clutch and joint guarding

Three separate king cobra nesting sites have been documented in Yunnan province, offering rare insight into the species' breeding habits. The initial discovery in July 2020 in Menghai County revealed a bamboo-leaf nest with 30 eggs and a solitary adult, presumed female, guarding it. A later find in June 2024 west of Kunming featured a pine-needle nest holding 72 eggs, unusually large, and was guarded by two cobras of different lengths, providing the first evidence of multiple individuals defending a single nest.

The final nest, located in Lancang County in June 2025, contained 25 eggs; after the guarding snake left, researchers observed juvenile cobras emerging in August, confirming hatching. These records represent the first documented king cobra nests and clutch sizes outside the Xizang Autonomous Region, expanding knowledge of the species' reproductive range and indicating possible cooperative guarding or dual-female nesting.

The study, published in Integrative Conservation, highlights the need for further fieldwork to determine the reasons behind the oversized clutch. Findings may inform conservation strategies for the vulnerable species across its Asian range.