A four-metre-long king cobra entered an office building belonging to Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency, or National Research and Innovation Agency, in South Tangerang, Banten, prompting an evacuation by a reptile handler.
The incident took place on Monday evening, 11 May 2026, at the BRIN office complex in South Tangerang. The evacuation was carried out by reptile activist Teguh Exopets after security personnel reported the presence of the snake inside the building.
According to Teguh, the king cobra was first spotted near the office building before it entered a toilet area.
“Someone saw it and panicked. The snake entered the building, into the toilet. Then, it was closed so the snake could be evacuated. After that, I was contacted,” Teguh said on Wednesday.
Security officers immediately closed the toilet door to prevent the snake from moving further inside the building while waiting for assistance.
Snake Displayed Aggressive Behaviour During Evacuation
Teguh said he arrived at the location without specialised equipment because he was accustomed to handling king cobras. He then entered the toilet and attempted to remove the snake by pulling its tail.
Video footage from the evacuation showed the snake repeatedly attempting to strike at Teguh during the process. He managed to avoid the attacks before continuing the evacuation.
“King cobras have different personalities. Some are calm, others are typical chasers. That one was a chaser, that’s why it lunged two or three times,” he said.
Teguh explained that the snake’s aggressive behaviour made the evacuation more difficult, particularly because many people had gathered near the area.
“There were a lot of security guards in the building, around 20 people. Luckily, I stepped back because I wanted to focus on the evacuation. It is dangerous for someone who is not used to it,” he said.
He eventually decided to use a snake handling stick to complete the evacuation safely.
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Authorities Urge Public to Avoid Handling Wild Snakes
The king cobra was successfully removed from the building without reports of injuries. Authorities did not release further information regarding where the snake came from or where it would be relocated after the evacuation.
King cobras are among the world’s longest venomous snakes and are known for their defensive behaviour when threatened. Wildlife handlers in Indonesia frequently remind the public not to attempt to capture or handle snakes without professional assistance.
Incidents involving snakes entering residential areas, offices, and public facilities are periodically reported in several regions of Indonesia, particularly during seasonal weather changes and habitat disturbances.
