One-year-old bites cobra to death in India, survives

In a rare and startling incident, a one-year-old boy in Bihar’s West Champaran district bit a cobra, killing the snake instantly.

The toddler, Govinda, mistook the two-foot-long serpent for a toy while playing at home.

According to media reports, the cobra entered Govinda’s home in Mohachchhi Bankatwa village under Majhaulia block on Friday afternoon.

The boy’s grandmother spotted the snake near him, but before she could intervene, the child bit the cobra, ripping it into two halves. The snake died immediately, but Govinda lost consciousness soon after.

Media reports stated that the boy was rushed to the nearby Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Majhauliya, where he received initial treatment. He was then referred to the Government Medical College for further care. Hospital officials confirmed that the boy showed no symptoms of venom poisoning and remains stable under close medical observation.

Govinda’s grandmother said his mother was away collecting firewood when the cobra entered the house. The toddler, likely reacting instinctively, grabbed the snake and bit it. Villagers described the boy’s actions as reflexive, noting that the cobra’s close presence may have agitated him.

Cobras rank among the most dangerous snakes in India, with snakebite fatalities tragically common during the monsoon season.

Wildlife experts, speaking to Hindustan Times, attribute the recent rise in snake sightings to heavy monsoon rains and unplanned construction, which have displaced snakes from their natural habitats into residential areas. Similar incidents have been reported across the country, including the rescue of 85 snakes in Gurugram this July.