A 2-year-old boy from Bihar, India, Govinda Kumar, left his family and doctors stunned after he bit a venomous cobra to death.
The unusual incident occurred in Bankatwa village while the toddler was playing near his home and came across the three-foot-long snake.
According to his grandmother, Mateshwari Devi, the snake slithered up and wrapped itself around the boy’s hand.
But rather than crying or running away, young Govinda reportedly bit into the snake’s head, delivering a fatal bite that killed it.
“He grabbed the cobra and bit its head,” Devi said. “We saw the snake coiled around his hand, and he had the snake’s head in his mouth. We immediately separated them.”
The child lost consciousness shortly after the incident, likely due to venom exposure through his mouth.
He was initially taken to a local health center, then transferred to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Bettiah for specialized care.
Dr. Saurab Kumar, a pediatrician at GMCH, described the case as “highly unusual.” While snakebites are common during India’s rainy season, this was the first time they had seen a child survive after biting and ingesting part of a venomous snake.
“His face and mouth were swollen, which indicated a reaction to the venom in his mouth,” Dr. Kumar said. “Thankfully, the venom didn’t enter his bloodstream, which could have been fatal.”
The child received anti-allergy treatment and was closely monitored for 48 hours. When no further symptoms appeared, he was discharged from the hospital.
The cobra reportedly died instantly from the trauma caused by the toddler’s bite.
Medical experts highlighted the rarity of the case, explaining that while cobra venom is typically lethal when injected into the bloodstream, in this instance, it entered through the digestive system, making it more manageable for doctors.
Govinda is now recovering at home, as his extraordinary story continues to leave both his community and medical professionals in disbelief.
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