When was the king cobra first found?

The king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) has been known to science since the early 19th century, with its formal description occurring in 1807 by the naturalist Friedrich Wilhelm Hemprich. However, the species itself has existed for much longer, as evidenced by fossil records. King cobras are native to the forests of Southeast Asia, and they have been part of the local fauna for thousands of years, often featuring in cultural and historical contexts.