A seasoned police constable in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India, died Saturday night after being bitten by a cobra he attempted to catch without any protective equipment. The incident, captured on video and widely shared online, has raised serious concerns about the risks of handling venomous snakes without proper safety measures.
Constable Santosh, a member of the First Battalion for nearly 17 years and known for his skill in snake handling, was called to the police horse stable around 9pm after a snake was spotted. Trusted for his experience, he was tasked with removing the reptile. Footage shows him approaching and grabbing the cobra with bare hands, without gloves or any safety gear. Within seconds, the snake struck, biting him on the hand.
Fellow officers, including Swami Prasad Sahu, rushed Santosh to MY Hospital. Despite urgent medical attention, doctors declared him dead later that night.
Colleagues described the incident as deeply tragic.
While Santosh had successfully handled snakes many times before, they emphasised that experience alone is not enough when dealing with venomous species.
His death, they said, underscores the importance of using protective gear and following strict safety protocols. Police officials have assured that his family will receive full support in the wake of the loss.
Santosh is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.
In 2009, Kelly Ann Walz’s lifeless body was discovered inside the cage belonging to their cherished bear, Teddy. Kelly and her husband, Michael, had devoted nine years to raising the bear from cubhood to adulthood at their home. Their collection of exotic pets included an African lion, a cougar, a jaguar, a tiger, a leopard and two servals.
The 37-year-old had a custom-built 15-by-15-foot cage made of steel and concrete, which was being cleaned on the day Teddy launched his deadly attack. A neighbour’s children witnessed the horrifying scene as a 350-pound bear attacked Kelly, despite her desperate screams for help. By the time family friend and neighbour Scott Castone arrived at their property, armed and ready to intervene, it was too late for Kelly.
