We were surprised by the headline too. Credit: Petr Ganaj/Pexels

A Cobra Dies from a Child Bite in India

Last Updated on November 8, 2023 by Ecologica Life

Yes, the headline sounds the wrong way round, but it is true.

In a recent encounter with an eight-year-old child youngster in India, a cobra died. The cobra, despite being dangerous, fortunately did not envenomate the boy as it curled around the boy’s arm and delivered the initial bite. The kid bit back when it wouldn’t let go of his arm and the snake died as a result.

Living with wildlife can be beautiful, but occasionally there may be difficulties between human and wildlife co-inhabitants. A little boy recently engaged in such a confrontation with a cobra, one of the Elapidae snakes distinguished by a hood, fixed fangs and venom, while playing outside his home in India.

The Cobra-Child Showdown

In a bind, the child (reportedly named Deepak) decided to take matters into his own hands by biting the snake twice. Doctors later determined that Deepak had suffered from what is known as a “dry bite,” which occurs when no venom is administered with the bite, and the snake died from its wounds.

According to The New Indian Express, the incident took place in the village of Pandarpadh in the North-eastern Raipur district of Jashpur.

“The snake got wrapped around my hand and bit me. I was in great pain. As the reptile didn’t budge when I tried to shake it off, I bit it hard twice. It all happened in a flash,”

Deepak tells local media

The spectacled cobra (Naja naja) earned its name from putting on a shown when it feels threatened. The snake is able to administer a neurotoxic venom that can be lethal in 20-30% of cases if left untreated. It has a rather high frequency of human snake bites due to residing in human-occupied areas. Paralysis, convulsions, headache, nausea, and vomiting are some of the signs of envenomation, which can be treated with antivenom injections.

Adult snakes don’t frequently release venom when they are just trying to startle their adversary and flee. Fortunately for Deepak, the cobra chose not to release its venom at this particular moment.

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