In 2006, Menon was researching pygmy hogs in Manas when he came face-to-face with a king cobra, the world"s longest venomous snake which is found only in dense, undisturbed jungles in South and Southeast Asia.  The presence of this elusive reptile suggested to him that the habitat of Manas was still robust and viable for rewilding. He realised there was scope for reintroducing lost animal species in this forest and grassland landscape, as it was ideal habitat for greater one-horned rhinos and elephants.