By D. G. Sugathapala-Galle   

A brood of 42 young cobras found in a hollow of a tree in Lelwala estate was caught and released yesterday into the Kottawa forest reserve by Constable Amila Madusanka of the Wanduramba Police. 

He said he had the practice of capturing and releasing cobras into jungles.  

“Villagers were frightened by a cobra gliding from the hollow and alerted me the constable said. When I visited the scene I found 42 young cobras in the hatch. Several others had already moved away. I caught them and released  them to the jungle,” he said.  He further said he had captured and released about 400 young cobras previously.