Two-Yr-Old Baby Bites a Venomous Cobra to Death in a Bizarre Incident

In an extraordinary and highly unusual event that has captured global attention, a two-year-old infant in the northern Indian state of Bihar reportedly bit a venomous cobra to death after the snake coiled around his hands.

According to The Daily Mail, the incident, which occurred while the child was playing, left the snake dead and the boy unconscious, though he later recovered.

A Terrifying Encounter

The infant, identified as Govinda, was playing at his home in the small town of Bettiah, near the Indo-Nepal border, when the frightening encounter unfolded.

A cobra, described as being approximately two to three feet long, entered the house. Govinda, perhaps mistaking the serpent for a toy, reportedly picked it up. The snake then coiled itself tightly around the child's hands.

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Instead of crying or releasing the snake, the toddler, in a remarkable act of self-preservation, bit the cobra.

"When we saw the snake in the child's hand, everyone rushed towards him, but in the meantime, he already bit the snake, killing it on the spot," the child's grandmother, Mateshwari Devi, recounted to local news outlets.

Miraculous Survival

Following the dramatic encounter, the infant fainted and was immediately rushed to a primary health care centre for initial treatment. He was subsequently transferred to the town's Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) for further observation and care.

Doctors described the case as "highly unusual". While the cobra's venom is potent, its effects on Govinda were reportedly mild, primarily causing him to lose consciousness, but proving non-fatal.

Medical professionals indicated that the cobra likely died from the trauma inflicted by the child's bite to its head and mouth.

"Timely treatment saved Govinda's life," one doctor confirmed. He added, "The child's condition is currently stable and treatment is being administered under the supervision of doctors. The medical team is treating the child, providing continuous medication, and he is under observation".

 Govinda is being closely monitored for any symptoms of poisoning.

Snakebites in India: A Broader Context

This extraordinary incident occurs in a country where snakebites pose a significant public health challenge.

According to wildlife statistics, India is home to approximately 300 species of snakes, with around 60 considered highly venomous.

Among these, the Indian cobra is one of the "big four" species responsible for the majority of snakebite-related deaths.   

A study published in the journal eLife in 2020 revealed that India recorded over a million snakebite deaths between 2000 and 2019.

More than two-thirds of these fatalities occurred in just eight of India's 28 states.