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Discovery channel star looses his king cobra in Orlando, Fla.

The venomous snake slithered away from the home of Mike Kennedy, in the 4800 block of North Apopka Vineland Road, in Orlando, Florida. Kennedy is an experienced exotic animal handler and the star of the Discovery Channel’s show, Airplane Repo.

The problem is that the reptile is venomous, very much so, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) isn’t taking any chances on someone getting bitten. There are currently 10 people scouring the 10-acre property where the snake went missing, all of them experienced snake handlers.

Kennedy told CNN News the snake escaped after a storm caused a tree limb to fall on the house where the cobra’s cage is located. The flooding that resulted allowed the snake to escape. “It has been incredibly traumatic for me and my family,” he said.

The snake went missing sometime on Tuesday, but Kennedy waited until Wednesday to report it missing. Orlando’s WESH.com is reporting that Kennedy could face criminal charges for not reporting the deadly animal missing right away.

Students at Clarcona Elementary School, about one-half mile from Kennedy’s home are being kept inside. Principal Robert Strenth, in a voice message to parents, reassured them, saying, “We are moving all outside activities, including P.E. and recess, inside. And we will be relocating our portable classrooms into the main building.”

Wildlife officials say the eight-foot green and yellow king cobra can deliver enough neurotoxins in one bite to kill an elephant. In the wild, the reptile is native to Southeast Asia, and can grow up to 18-feet in length.

Kennedy says it won’t be easy to find the reptile because the area is heavily wooded. “All it wants to do is stay hidden,” Kennedy said. He believes it’s within 100 yards of the building because it’s not acclimated to captivity and is still afraid of human interaction.

Regardless of how afraid Kennedy thinks his pet may be, Fox News says the FWC is advising folks to not approach the reptile if they see it, and to call authorities.

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We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend Karen Graham, who served as Editor-at-Large at Digital Journal. She was 78 years old. Karen's view of what is happening in our world was colored by her love of history and how the past influences events taking place today. Her belief in humankind's part in the care of the planet and our environment has led her to focus on the need for action in dealing with climate change. It was said by Geoffrey C. Ward, "Journalism is merely history's first draft." Everyone who writes about what is happening today is indeed, writing a small part of our history.

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