New research reveals that cobras and their relatives, thought to have originated in Africa, actually evolved in Asia. Scientists analyzed genetic data from 65 species of snakes and found that the earliest ancestors of these snakes emerged in Asia between 28.94 and 45.92 million years ago. The study suggests that these snakes spread across the world through multiple waves, with some migrating from Asia to Africa and others dispersing to Europe, Australasia, and the Americas.

Source: https://www.livescience.com/animals/snakes/cobras-and-their-relatives-evolved-in-asia