Man who lost king cobra loses venomous reptile license, FWC rules

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An Orange County man, whose king cobra escaped in 2015, just lost his license to keep his exotic pets, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission decided.

According to the 12-page ruling, the FWC commission just could not overlook the fact that this was the third time a venomous snake escaped from a cage on Michael Kennedy's property.

Elvis, the king cobra, escaped in September 2015 from the Dragon Ranch on North Apopka Vineland Road in Orange County.

While the snake was on the loose for nearly a month, students at Clarcona Elementary School couldn’t go outside during recess because the school was near the ranch.

The cobra was found under a clothes dryer inside a neighbor’s garage.

Kennedy was fined $366 by the FWC after he admitted that he waited 24 hours before he notified authorities of the cobra’s escape.

The FWC commission said in its ruling, “Allowing the petitioner to keep his license after three separate escapes would send a message that there are no consequences for serious violations of commission venomous reptile rules.”

Kennedy’s first king cobra escape was in 2001. He was also cited by the FWC in 2004 for improper caging of an albino rattlesnake after it escaped. It was captured on the edge of his yard.

Kennedy told Channel 9's Jeff Levkulich that he was disappointed by the ruling, which revokes his venomous reptile license, and that he's trying to find homes for all the animals. He assured Eyewitness News that all the cages and enclosures are triple-secured and inspected and approved by the state.

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