8-foot-long cobra on the loose in Florida

Authorities are searching in the Orlando, Fla., area for a king cobra that recently escaped, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.

The escaped king cobra was reported Wednesday by its owner, a licensed and bonded individual, officials said.

The privately owned nonnative, venomous snake was reported to have escaped within the past 24 hours in the 4800 block of North Apopka Vineland Road in Orlando, Fla., according to commission officials.

The green-and-yellow male snake is 8-feet-long and looks identical to the image provided by Florida Fish and Wildlife officials above.

The animal is a snake hunter, officials said. All other venomous snakes are in their locked cages and are accounted for.

Officials said a permit is required to possess a king cobra and owners are required to report escaped animals immediately.

Officials searched the area Wednesday evening in search of the snake. Officials said people should not tough the snake and should report the sighting to the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).