Sealed with a HISS: Deadly cobra lunges at Indian snake-catcher’s face and bites him after he tried to KISS it
- Footage of bite showed the man appeared to be trying to get a high-risk photo
- But as he kissed back of the cobra’s head, it span around and bit him on the lip
- Cobras are among the ‘big four’ snake species that kill most people in India
- If not treated, a cobra’s venom can lead to respiratory failure or cardiac arrest
This is the moment a cobra lunged at the face of an Indian snake catcher, biting him on the lips as he tried to the kiss the deadly reptile.
Footage of the incident shows the man appeared to be trying to pose for a photograph when the venomous snake lashed out at him.
IN the video, the snake-catcher is shown kissing the back of the snake’s hood – the distinctive flaps a cobra uses to intimidate predators by making itself look bigger – while a second man holds the reptile down by its tail.
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This is the moment a cobra lunged at the face of an Indian snake-catcher, biting him on the lips as he tried to the kiss the deadly reptile
But to the man’s surprise, the snake suddenly spins its neck around and bites the man on his face with teeth that deploy an extremely dangerous venom – capable of killing an elephant.
Thankfully the man survived the incident in India’s southern Shivamogga district on Saturday, but was seen holding his face after the bite as he recoiled backwards in shock from the attack.
It was unclear whether the snake injected any of its venom into the man. If it did so, he would have required urgent treatment after the incident.
The snake was released shortly after, and is seen in the footage being thrown away by a second man before slithering away through the grass.
Footage of the incident (pictured) shows the man appeared to be trying to pose for a photograph when the venomous snake lashed out at him
Thankfully the man survived the incident in India’s southern Shivamogga district on Saturday, but was seen holding his face after the bite as he recoiled backwards in shock from the attack
In India, cobras are one of the ‘Big Four’ snakes – the four species responsible for the most number of fatal snake bites in the country. They are also found in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan.
The cobra is revered in Hindu mythology and culture, and are often seen being ‘played’ with by snake charmers – who most famously ‘hypnotise’ the snakes with a instrument called a pungi.
Other performances involving a snake charmer and a cobra also include performing seemingly dangerous acts with the reptiles.
But this comes with a high degree of risk thanks to a cobra’s venom, which contains a powerful post-synaptic neurotoxin (destructive to nerve tissues) and cardiotoxin (which causes muscle damage, particularly to the heart).
If not treated quickly, cobra venom can damage nerves, paralyze muscles and – in the most extreme cases – can lead to respiratory failure or cardiac arrest.
The mortality rate from a snake bite from an Indian Cobra varies from case to case, and is based on the amount of venom delivered by the bite.
According to one study, the mortality rate can be between 20 to 30 percent, but another study involving victims who were given quick medical treatment, around nine percent of victims died.
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