Intense Two King Cobras Fight for a Nearby Queen  Into the Wild India   Smithsonian Channel - video Dailymotion

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Transcript

00:00 (birds chirping)

00:01 The three-month-long mating season is almost over.

00:04 As she approaches the village,

00:11 the male flicks his tongue,

00:13 searching for small scent particles in the air.

00:16 He may be able to smell her presence,

00:21 but her heady cocktail of pheromones

00:28 has attracted another admirer.

00:30 A second male has picked up her trail in the forest

00:36 and followed her into the village.

00:38 And he's been spotted.

00:46 King cobras can see prey up to 300 feet away.

00:56 The village male sees the intruder approaching,

00:59 and he is fiercely territorial,

01:05 especially in mating season.

01:07 He moves to intercept the trespasser.

01:14 The two males size each other up,

01:25 rearing a third of their bodies off the ground.

01:28 They flare their trademark hoods in a display of aggression.

01:32 Biting would be futile and a waste of the precious toxin,

01:46 as their own powerful venom has little effect

01:51 on other king cobras.

01:52 (dramatic music)

01:55 Instead, their bodies entwine in a wrestling match.

02:06 The aim is to force their opponent's head to the ground.

02:17 (dramatic music)

02:20 Oblivious to everything around them,

02:27 they vie for dominance.

02:29 Their brawl carries them out of the village

02:42 and into the forest.

02:43 (dramatic music)

02:46 They will fight as long as they have the strength.

02:51 Winning and earning the right to breed is all that matters.

02:57 After five hours of combat,

03:06 the intruding challenger accepts defeat

03:09 and slinks off into the forest.

03:12 (birds chirping)

03:15 His dominance established,

03:19 the village male now has his chance with Nagaina.

03:22 (upbeat music)

03:27 (upbeat music)