A well-known snake catcher in India is in crucial situation after being bitten by a king cobra throughout a rescue mission.

Vava Suresh was hospitalized on the night of January 31 whereas catching a cobra discovered within the Kottayam district of Kerala.

King cobras are venomous snakes native to India that usually develop to round 13 ft in size. They're thought-about one of many deadliest snakes on this planet. Whereas its venom is just not probably the most potent, the quantity administered in a single chew may be sufficient to kill 20 folks.

Suresh is a wildlife conservationist and snake skilled. He's host of the Indian snake catching program Snake Grasp on Kaumudy TV. He's a well-known determine, with over two million followers in Fb.

The Indian Specific reported that as Suresh went to place the reptile inside a bag, it creeped up near his leg and bit him above the knee. A video taken by an area villager caught the second the cobra bit him on a cellular phone. Within the footage, villagers may be heard screaming because the cobra lunges in the direction of the snake catcher. The video may be seen right here.

Regardless of the chew, Suresh nonetheless managed to position the snake contained in the bag earlier than locals rushed him to a non-public hospital.

Hospital officers stated that Suresh was unconscious when he was introduced in, and is having antivenom administered to him. On February 1, native information outlet Onmanorama stated there was a "slight enchancment" in his situation however he stays on a ventilator.

Vava Suresh
The snake catcher met Prince Charles just a few years in the past, who stated the snake catcher was a "residing marvel". WPA Pool / Pool/Getty Photographs

India is among the many international locations most dramatically affected by snake bites, accounting for nearly half the full variety of annual snake chew deaths on this planet, in response to the World Well being Organisation (WHO.)

In 2020, it was estimated that 1.2 million folks in India died snake chew deaths between 2000 to 2019.

This isn't the primary time the Suresh has needed to struggle for his life after a snake chew.

Based on the Hindustan Instances, Suresh had already been on the hospital recovering from one other chew when he obtained the decision to take away the cobra. Suresh, who has rescued over 50,000 snake and different animals, advised the Hindustan Instances in an earlier interview that he had suffered over 250 bites throughout his profession.

One other incident in 2020 noticed the native movie star combating for his life on a ventilator for days after a pit viper bit him.

Medical doctors have beforehand warned Suresh that snake antivenom might have little impression on him as a result of variety of bites he has suffered.

The snake catcher has beforehand misplaced a finger to a cobra chew. One other snake chew has additionally brought on him to unfastened the motion in his proper wrist.

Suresh has even been praised by inheritor to the British throne Prince Charles, who advised the snake catcher he was a "residing marvel" for catching so many king cobras on a go to to Kerala in 2013.

cobra
A inventory picture reveals a king cobra. They're thought-about one of the vital harmful snakes on this planet. DikkyOesin/Getty Photographs